Mother convicted of cruelty after three year old son filmed smoking

Sky News reports that a mother in Merthyr Vale, South Wales allowed her 3 year old boy to smoke a cigarette. The incident was filmed on a mobile telephone and passed to social services by a concerned friend.

The mother pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to a child under 16 and was sentenced to 40 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Although the mother was prosecuted under a different statute, the law provides certain protections for children against harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol. The Protection of Children (Tobacco) Act 1986 amends the Children and Young Person Act 1933, which provides an offence of selling any tobacco product to persons under the age of sixteen and for connected purposes.

The Licensing (Young Persons) Act 2000 amends the Licensing Act 1964 in relation to the sale or delivery of intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 or the purchase by any such person.

Section 169D contains exemptions for persons who have reached the age of 16.

Section 169G creates an offence of knowingly sending a person under 18 for the purpose of obtaining intoxicating liquor.

See Sky News – 22nd January 2009