A woman who had a relationship with a convicted child sex offender and then suggested one of her young daughters should "deal with it herself" when she was indecently assaulted by the man, has been convicted on two counts of neglecting children.
The 45-year-old woman was granted interim name suppression when she appeared before Judge Paul Kellar in the Oamaru District Court yesterday, to protect the identities of her two daughters who are now in permanent foster care.
Sergeant Tom Scouller said the woman's daughters were aged 11 and 10 at the time of the offending, which occurred between August 6 and October 20 last year.
During August last year, the woman began a relationship with the man, who had previous convictions for sexual offending against children.
He had recently been released from prison and a parole condition was that he was not to have any contact with children under 16.
Despite warnings from police, social workers and friends, the defendant continued her relationship with the man, visiting him at his home, accompanied by her daughters.
He indecently assaulted one of the girls while she was in the same room or nearby, Sgt Scouller said.
When the girl told her mother about the offending, the defendant failed to provide support or protection and suggested she should deal with it herself.
The children were taken into Child Youth and Family custody and have since been placed in permanent foster care.
The man was subsequently convicted of indecently assaulting the girl.
The defendant was convicted on the charges and remanded on bail for sentencing on January 10 next year.
Judge Kellar ordered a pre-sentence report to look at intensive supervision as a possible sentence, but also to investigate the suitability of community and home detention.
