Convicted of child assaults

A mother-of-six resorted to violence to manage frustrations connected to her relationship and money problems.

Yesterday, Jemmel Francis Anahera Te Paerata Kumeroa Abraham was sentenced to nine months’ supervision on two charges of assaulting a child at her Rangitake Dr home in New Plymouth. The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges at a previous appearance in the New Plymouth District Court.

Judge Chris Sygrove said the first assault took place in March after she found out her nine-yearold son had stolen $10 from her wallet. She growled him and told him he would be doing extra chores and going without pocket money for a fortnight.

But after he did the dishes, the boy dished out a hiding to his brother, thinking he was the one who told their mother about the stolen money.

In response, Abraham got a wooden spoon and whacked the boy over the hands with it. The boy was not injured.

The second assault took place after Abraham returned home and found her partner drinking with friends. She got angry at him and told him to leave. As she walked up the hallway, she encountered her five-year-old daughter. She lashed out at her, back-handing the girl in the back of the head.

Abraham also pushed the child’s face into a door, giving the girl a bloody nose.

Sygrove said the assaults were connected to the amount of stress Abraham was under

The court also heard how Abraham no longer had the care of her six children but was currently going through a process in the Family Court. - Deena Coster