Mother attacked toddler during suicide attempt

WOMAN HAS BEEN JAILED FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS

Court Reporter A MOTHER who cut her toddler’s wrists during a disturbing attempt to kill herself has been jailed.

The troubled woman used a knife on her two-year-old while also slitting her own wrists after downing a cocktail of drink and drugs.

A court heard the toddler suffered a “significantly deep” wound to his wrist and has been left scarred and suffering night terrors.

Now the mum, in her 20s and of South Shields, has been locked up for four years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court after she admitted wounding with intent.

Judge Tim Gittins said the attack was a “serious act of violence towards a defenceless child”.

He told the woman: “It is hoped the child is young enough to have no memory of what happened.

“The injury was undoubtedly serious, the location on the wrists had potential to be significant and the risk of significant damage, even fatality, was very high.

“There will, no doubt, be some permanent psychological scarring.

“This was a defenceless toddler and the wounds were to each wrist, not a single cut.

“The intention must have been to cause more serious harm than was caused.”

After the attack the woman called the emergency services to report she had “attempted suicide” then explained she had cut both her own and the boy’s wrists. The toddler suffered a deep wound to one wrist, which cut through skin and fatty tissues and came close to nerves and arteries. He had a superficial cut to the other. He was treated at hospital with steri-strips and pain killers but is likely to be left with permanent scarring. Despite the serious injury, there appears to have been no damage in terms of the toddler’s wrist movement, Judge Tim Gittins strength or grip.

The mum, who had a deeply troubled childhood, had been diagnosed with unstable emotional personality disorder and had a history of self-harm.

Judge Gittins said the mother was in a “confused emotional and psychiatric state” when she carried out the attack.

He said he was satisfied the incident was an “isolated act”.

The court heard the mum has sought help from various agencies in the past and is determined to continue receiving help and treatment in future.

She is now “permanently separated” from the child, the court heard.