A YOUNG Carlisle boy assaulted by his drunk mother phoned a relative to ask her to take him away from his home.

The distressing plight of the junior school age youngster was described at the city’s Rickergate court as his mother pleaded guilty to assaulting him by beating him on February 20.

Outlining the case, prosecutor George Shelley said the alarm was raised after the child’s relative contacted the police. The woman said that her nephew had phoned her and asked her to 'take him away.'

The boy later disclosed that he had been at home with his mother and felt he had to lock himself in the bathroom because she was drunk. He did this after she had assaulted him, the boy told police.

There had been an argument after she told him to do some housework and he had become upset, he said.

During this, the woman had punched her son five times on the thigh and then kicked him on the back and pulled his hair, said Mr Shelley. The court heard that the defendant is a woman of previous good character.

A probation officer who interviewed the woman said she had expressed genuine remorse for her behaviour. The defendant struggled to recall the details of what happened.

But she did accept her behaviour was as outlined by the prosecution and understood that it was underpinned by alcohol.

An isolated individual, the woman had indicated being affected by a past trauma and she acknowledged that alcohol had been an issue in her life for the past few years.

But there was evidence of positive change, said the officer. The defendant was due to begin a detoxification programme and she was also working with Children’s Services in the hope that her son, currently living with relatives, could be returned to her.

Andrew Gurney, defending, said: “She’s appalled by her actions and is truly devastated by the harm she had caused her son during a momentary loss of her composure.”

Mr Gurney said the defendant had initially used alcohol as a way of coping that had escalated but she was now addressing this. “She desperately wants her family back together,” he said.

“This will haunt her for the rest of her life, and she wants to make it right.”

Magistrates said that what happened had been “enormously distressing” but they had been heartened by the contents of her comprehensive background probation report, whose recommendations they would follow.

The imposed a one-year community order, with 15 rehabilitation days and a three-month alcohol treatment requirement.

The defendant must also observe a four week 9pm to 8am curfew and pay costs of £85 and a £95 victim surcharge. The woman can not be named for legal reasons. 

* If you have a concern, you can contact the NSPCC. The number for adults concerned about a child is 0808 800 5000; for a child or young person who needs help call Childline on 0800 1111.