The girl awoke and searched the house for her mother, wandering outside in the 3C temperature. Photo / File
The girl awoke and searched the house for her mother, wandering outside in the 3C temperature. Photo / File
The young mother of a toddler who wandered into the street at night after being left home alone has been sentenced and granted permanent name suppression.
Judge Tony Walsh sentenced the 27-year-old woman in the Masterton District Court yesterday. She pleaded guilty to leaving a child under 14 alone withoutproper care or supervision, and was sentenced to six months' supervision and ordered to undergo alcohol and drug counselling.
The judge agreed to suppress her name indefinitely to protect her 3-year-old daughter.
The court heard the woman put the girl to bed about 7pm on June 26 and, after the child fell asleep, left the house to go drinking at a friend's house, 1.6km away. She had intended to be away about half an hour but had stayed much later. After 10pm, the girl awoke and searched the house for her mother.
Not finding her, the child managed to open the front door and, wearing her pyjamas and socks, stepped outside.