Woman who left her child in a freezing car is granted probation

A 32-year-old woman who was charged with failing to provide the necessities of life to her child left the courthouse a free woman on Thursday after being granted a conditional discharge with a one-year probation.

The mother, who cannot be named in order to protect the young child’s identity, was first charged in 2016 after she and a 25-year-old woman left their children in a locked vehicle outside of a bar in December 2016.

The three-year-old girl and four-year-old boy were in the car for around an hour, and both suffered from mild or early hypothermia.

The girl’s mother pleaded guilty to the same charge last March and was given a conditional sentence.

The boy’s mother pleaded guilty in April of this year.

The judge noted during sentencing that the woman had effectively co-operated with authorities before and after being granted permission to resume parenting, which she was permitted to do six months after the incident. The judge said he considered those and other factors in arriving at his sentence.

Defence lawyer David Cavilla says his client is relieved to have the ordeal behind her.

“As the judge said, this is often a case where the individual will end up going to jail or maybe house arrest so in these circumstances she’s very relieved and happy to have it concluded,” said Cavilla.

With the judge placing additional stipulations on the sentencing, the woman will not have a criminal record if she exhibits good behaviour and continues with recommended counselling and treatment for the next year.