A woman who subjected her grandson to severe forms of punishment has escaped jail time due to her declining health. The teenager endured both physical and emotional suffering in an environment filled with fear and a lack of outside support. His punishment included sleeping on the floor and standing for extended periods with his hands on his head, sometimes for up to 14 hours, while dressed in minimal clothing.
After pleading guilty to child mistreatment, the woman received a two-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court of Tasmania. However, this sentence was entirely suspended because she is facing serious health issues that render her largely home-bound and with a life expectancy of less than two years.
Justice Robert Pearce indicated that imposing community service or home detention would not be beneficial since the likelihood of her re-offending is minimal. He acknowledged the necessity of a prison sentence for general deterrence but deemed actual imprisonment too burdensome for someone with her health concerns.
CCTV footage from 2016 captured the boy’s distress over a week, displaying instances of the woman pulling his hair, leading to bruising and swelling. Often seen in just a nappy, the boy once collapsed under the strain of his punishments.
Justice Pearce remarked that the woman had created a stringent punishment system to enforce a rigid set of rules, subjecting the boy to severe psychological and physical torment. He pointed out that her actions, while initially not driven by cruelty, reflected her inability to cope with the responsibilities of care, leading to a severe distortion in her sense of right and wrong.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the woman has not shown remorse, and her police interview revealed a lack of understanding of the seriousness of her actions. The prosecution noted that the abusive punishment regime lasted for nearly nine months. Although charges were laid in 2016, legal proceedings were delayed due to her entering palliative care. In 2019, it was discovered that her health had not deteriorated as anticipated, leading to her return to court in 2023.
Support resources for individuals facing similar situations include 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline at 13 11 14, and Kids Helpline, which assists young people aged 5 to 25 at 1800 55 1800.