A MOTHER has been jailed for 18 months for child cruelty after a court heard how she assaulted her two young children.

The Bolton mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of her children, used a tea towel instead of nappies on her baby son and threw toys at the children, leaving them bruised.

Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how the mum even spent money, given to her to buy nappies and baby milk by a concerned neighbour, on cider and cigarettes.

The court heard that on June 14 last year neighbours heard the children screaming and the sound of smashing glass coming from the single mum’s home and then she was seen leaving the house, in a drunken state, with them.

Police were called, who arrived at the house in time to see the mother returning with her primary school age daughter and baby son, verbally abusing them.

The girl, who was seen being pulled down the stairs by her leg by her mother, was dressed only in a dirty T-shirt and underwear.

Inside the house the kitchen had been damaged with the microwave broken, with floor tiles and crockery smashed.

Examination by a paediatrician the following day revealed both children had multiple bruises and abrasions, a girl had a bald patch on her scalp and her little brother had an injured foot due to wearing shoes which were too small.

When interviewed by police the girl told them how they had been slapped, kicked and bitten by their mother.

The children were placed with a foster carer who noticed that, at first, the young boy could not walk or speak and always seemed to be hungry.

The mother denied ill treating her children when questioned by police but subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty.

Kevin Liston, defending, said the mother had suffered from depression and had little family support.

“She makes a clear concession that she was struggling as a single parent and, in some way, felt inadequate,” said Mr Liston, who added that she had turned to medication, drugs and alcohol as “a crutch.”

“It is an unpleasant case – (she) concedes her conduct was inexcusable.”

Jailing the mother for 18 months Judge Graeme Smith stressed that children are a “blessing.”

“With such blessing comes responsibility and you now accept you have failed to discharge that responsibility,” he added, telling her that until recently she had sought to minimise her behaviour.

“Two young and vulnerable children, who relied upon you to protect them, ended up meeting harm at your hands.”

Judge Smith added that only a prison sentence could be given.

“There is a strong message that needs to be sent out to those with the care of young children,” he said.