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Perth mum jailed for neglecting injured son

AAPEastern Reporter

A MUM who failed to seek medical treatment for her one-year-old son’s severe injuries has been sentenced to two years behind bars in what a Perth judge described as an “extraordinary case of parental neglect”.

Levi Robinson had multiple fractures, a deformed left leg and bruises on his body, the West Australia District Court heard on Friday.

Tracey Jade Simmons pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct reckless as to whether it may result in her son suffering harm as a result of physical abuse or neglect between January 2016 and March 2017.

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Nurses had attended the home in November 2016 to check on Levi’s younger brother and found the house was filthy with rotting food on the table, rubbish and flies.

Levi did not appear to be meeting age milestones and nurses visited the home again twice the following month, the court heard.

Between then and February 2017, nurses were unable to contact the family despite repeated calls, letters and unannounced home visits.

A doctor later examined Levi and said he needed an X-ray, but Simmons again failed to act on the referral and Levi was eventually removed from her care.

Simmons denied causing the injuries and instead tried to blame Levi’s two-year-old sister.

Co-offender Jayden Lee Robinson, who is Levi’s father, also denied causing the injuries, although he admitted being rough with Levi at least twice by shoving him into the cot.

“Neither of you has accepted any responsibility for injuring Levi, even though one of you must have done so, possibly both of you given the number and variety of his injuries,” Judge John Staude said.

“He would have obviously been in severe pain and distress by his injuries.”

Judge Staude said Simmons’ methamphetamine use would have contributed to her being recklessly insensitive to her son’s needs.

“Your offending is aggravated by the number of injuries to different parts of his body, at least some of them inflicted at different times,” he said.

Simmons must serve at least one year in prison before she can be eligible for parole.

Robinson was previously sentenced to two years in jail.