No conviction for lie about child abuse

A woman who lied to police as they investigated how a toddler received bruising and a fractured arm has been granted a discharge without conviction.

Jaymee Helen Tunnicliff previously pleaded guilty to a charge of making a false statement and was given a chance to avoid being convicted.

To achieve this the New Plymouth woman needed to complete a parenting programme along with

30 hours of voluntary community work.

The summary of facts related to the case stated that on February

21, Tunnicliff arrived at the Carefirst Medical Centre with a two-year-old child, who had bruising on her face and inside her ear.

A doctor assessed the child and referred her to be seen by a paediatrician at Taranaki Base Hospital, due to a concern the injuries may have been nonaccidental.

At the hospital, a full check-up was completed, including a skeletal scan, which showed the girl had suffered a fracture to her arm.

Because of the nature of the injuries, police were notified.

When interviewed, Tunnicliff told police she had no idea how the injuries were caused and that she had been the only one with the child the night before they went to the doctor.

During conversations she had with police and social workers in the following days, she stuck to this story and signed a formal statement to that effect on March 6.

However, during the course of the investigation, police established a male friend of Tunnicliff’s had stayed at her house the night before the doctor’s visit and had the sole care of the child for a short time when she went out.

When told about this discovery, Tunnicliff admitted she had lied.

During Thursday’s hearing in the New Plymouth District Court, proof was presented that Tunnicliff had completed both the voluntary community work and parenting course so Judge Garry Barkle granted the discharge without conviction.