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11
May
Woman ‘failed to protect’ child who was near alcohol and drug paraphernalia
A woman from the Knaresborough area has admitted an offence of ill-treating a child.
The woman, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (May 8) when she pleaded guilty to one offence of assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting or abandoning a child or young person to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.
Louise Berry, prosecuting, told the court the offence happened in August 2024, when the woman went to a property in Knaresborough for the sole purpose of taking drugs.
The woman didn’t live at the property, but Ms Berry said her co-accused - who “has been dealt with” - did, and a young child was staying at the property too.
The court heard an ambulance was called to the property on the day of the offence due to a suspected overdose, but when the paramedics arrived, they called police due to “risks to the child”.
Ms Berry said:
[Child] was in a bed without bars and could’ve easily got out of the bed. There was drug paraphernalia and alcohol in the room.
The woman didn’t put the drug paraphernalia or the alcohol in the room, Ms Berry said, but she “failed to protect [child] by allowing it to happen”.
No harm was caused to the child.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the magistrates the starting point for sentence is a community-based order.
Mr Tinning recommended the case be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared, and said there was “considerable mitigation for this defendant”.
He didn’t provide any mitigation at the time, however.
The case was adjourned until July 9, when the woman, who was visibly upset in court, will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court for sentence.
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