Mum jailed for piercing baby's groin with pin

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A Hastings woman has been jailed for bashing her children and sticking a safety pin in her baby's groin.

Michelle Jane Donaldson, 39, was sentenced Hastings District Court on Tuesday after admitting assaulting her 15-year-old daughter, sons aged nine and five months, and her partner, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

The court was told she struck her daughter's back with a broomstick, knocked out two of her elder son's teeth by punching him, and slapped her baby's head and pierced his groin with a safety pin while changing his nappy.

The offending, covering a three-year period from 2008, came to light after Donaldson handed herself in to police.

Brian Webby, defending, said Donaldson had battled depression since childhood and had bouts of bipolar disorder.

None of the children required medical attention for their injuries.

He argued against imprisonment and said reintegration with her family could best be achieved by a term of supervision.

But Judge Philip Connell said her offending entailed an "element of cruelty" and her anger problem was directed towards "vulnerable and voiceless" children.

"I don't consider there can be appropriate condemnation of this conduct by way of home detention or community detention...there is a need to say to you this behaviour is to be denounced."

He jailed her for a year and ordered her to have psychological treatment and counselling on release.

- NZPA