Infant ate cannabis oil, court told

A woman sobbed as a court was told how her infant nephew ate cannabis oil while in her care.

A caregiver by trade, Teresa McKenzie was watching her brother's baby in March when she put a cannabis oil capsule on the bench, the Manawatu Standard reported.

She later saw a brown stain on the child's top and realised he had eaten the capsule.

McKenzie tried to clean the child's mouth out with toothpaste then put him to bed.

When she checked on the child at 4am she found him unconscious, with hot skin and a firm stomach and she took him to hospital.

Traces of methamphetamine were found in the child's urine, suggesting the oil had been laced. The baby was released after treatment.

McKenzie, 23, who pleaded guilty in Palmerston North District Court to failing to provide the necessities to a child, was given six months community detention, six months supervision and 100 hours community service, the Manawatu Standard reported.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Johnston said McKenzie had acted recklessly and put her own interests before her vulnerable nephew, waiting 12 hours before contacting emergency services.

McKenzie, who had not touched cannabis since the incident, was banned from having children under 16 live at her house until her sentence was completed.

- NZPA