'Sadistic' mother jailed for two years

A woman who rubbed chilli powder into her adopted daughter's eyes, forced her to take cold baths, and abused her with punches and kicks has been jailed for two years.

Ann Frances Munro, of Mt Maunganui, was denounced as "sadistic" in Auckland District Court yesterday when she was sentenced on four charges of cruelty to a child, one of assault on a child under the age of 14, two of assault on a child with intent to injure, and two of assault with a weapon.

The court was told the abuse charges arose when the daughter, now a teenager living with a new caregiver, complained to police in July 2003 about punishment at home.

She said Munro gave her cold baths, often holding her face under the cold tap or banging her head on the bottom of the bath.

She was also said to have rubbed chilli powder in the girl's eyes and mouth, and also punched and kicked her.

Munro's lawyer, Craig Horsley, said his client "did not mean to harm" the girl at any stage, and described the teen as "the daughter, the princess that (Munro) never had, that she wanted so badly".

Munro was "genuinely" saddened by the loss of her adopted daughter.

Mr Horsley said the victim impact statement was particularly upsetting for his client.

"To say that she is saddened by what she read is an understatement."

Munro had opened a bank account for the girl when she was little. It now contained $800, which would be given to the teen.

He asked Judge Michael Hobbs to take into account the fact that Munro was a first-time offender and posed no threat to the community.

She was caring for another son, who was disabled.

But prosecutor Sarah Simmers said Munro had had a month to arrange care for her son.

She described Munro's actions as "sadistic", saying the victim was "a particularly vulnerable and defenceless little girl who had nowhere else to go".

Passing sentence, Judge Hobbs agreed that Munro's actions caused the girl emotional and physical harm.

"One can only imagine the pain," he said. "This was behaviour which must be regarded as appalling, which needs to be denounced."

Judge Hobbs said he was pleased to hear the girl had grown into a resilient teenager. Her obvious strength meant she would not suffer any longterm effects.

Mr Horsley later said his client was happy with the result.

"She came to court expecting to go to prison, so in that sense she's not surprised at all."

He said Munro's two sisters had feared the sentence would be longer.

"They've lost a nephew and a sister to prison."

Munro's son, Michael Munro, was last month sentenced to 15 months' jail for also abusing the girl.

This was to be served concurrently with a 7 1/2-year sentence for the aggravated robberies of the 11th Ave branch of McDonald's on August 18, 2003; the KFC in Mount Maunganui on February 8 last year; and McDonald's in Mount Maunganui on October 3.

The teenaged victim was in court yesterday with her caregiver.

She appeared happy after the sentencing but declined to comment.

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES