Woman beat young son with ladle

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A 38-year-old Ranfurly woman who severely beat her seven-year-old son with a soup ladle has been remanded in custody.

In the Alexandra District Court yesterday, police prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said the woman became angry as the boy struggled with his homework and began striking him with a 30cm soup ladle on April 28.

Her son "writhed on the floor" attempting to shield himself but she repeatedly struck him with both the ladle and her hands, he said.

The boy, who received both external and internal bruising all over his body, has since been taken into the care of Child Youth and Family but the mother is still caring for several of his siblings.

The woman had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault with intent but pleaded guilty to an amended lesser charge of assault yesterday.

The woman's lawyer, Tim Cadogan, applied to have her released on bail to care for her remaining children, arguing that being away from them would throw the family into crisis, but the call was rejected by Judge Dominic Flatley.

"Not enough is done about this sort of thing and this is an appalling assault on this poor boy," he said. "Imprisonment is inevitable."

The judge said he did not understand the position of Child, Youth and Family, which provided supporting evidence for the bail application.

"We have an epidemic in this country and this needs to be marked."

The woman was convicted and remanded in custody until July 29.

- © Fairfax NZ News