Ill treatment charges for 'drunk mum'

File photo

A mother alleged to have been drunk behind the wheel when she dropped her children off at a Hastings primary school, has also been charged with ill treatment in relation to the incident.

The woman, who has interim name suppression, was picked up by police this month when she crashed into a parked car as she dropped off her children at school.

Police said when they arrived she had dropped one child off at the school gate, while the other child was still in the back seat of the car and wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Witnesses also told police both children were not wearing seatbelts during the journey.

The woman was taken to Hastings Police Station and processed for drink-driving.

She appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday, facing charges of failure to give a blood sample and dangerous driving, as well as two charges of ill treatment or neglect of a child under 18. She was remanded on bail, to appear again on June 2.

Senior Constable Andy Clinton said the ill treatment charges were related to the incident.

Police said at the time that officers were "dumbfounded and angry" after the incident, which was particularly disturbing in light of recent publicity for Road Safety Week, with a particular focus on Hawke's Bay schools.