A MUM who beat her children with a TV CABLE has been spared prison - after a judge ruled it would be worse for them if she was jailed.

The woman, who is in her 40s, repeatedly hit the youngsters all over their bodies, including on their arms, legs, backs and hips.

4 A mum who repeatedly beat her children with a TV cable when she was angry at them has been spared jail Credit: Alamy

4 Northampton County Crown heard the woman was caught after a fellow parent at her children's primary school raised concerns to the headteacher Credit: Alamy

One of the children said his mum had hit him on the back of his legs with the cable while he was being held down by another child.

But the woman was spared jail because the judge argued that “custody will be something that would cause them further difficulty”.

Northampton Crown Court court heard the mum, who can't be named for legal reasons, was caught after a fellow parent at her children's primary school raised concerns to teachers.

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The children then admitted to the headteacher their mother had beaten them.

They were examined and marks consistent with being hit by a TV cable were found on two of the youngsters.

The mum was arrested and mostly said "no comment" in an interview with police.

But she pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting young children when she appeared at court yesterday.

The woman was spared jail when she was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years, and handed a three-month curfew from 6pm until 6am.

Judge Michael Fowler said he decided to suspend the sentence because of the consequences a custodial term might have on her children.

He added: "In my opinion there has been too much focus on your problems and not on what you have done.

"It seems to me you are responsible for the disruption to your children's lives because you lost your temper and repeatedly beat them with a TV cable, causing marks on their young bodies."

4 The mum was spared jail despite one of the children saying his his mum had hit him on the back of his legs with the cable while he was being held down by another child Credit: Alamy

4 The mum pleaded guilty to three charges of assaulting young children and was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years Credit: Alamy

Judge Michael Fowler continued: "No mother can think this was an appropriate way to punish their children and you have done this repeatedly to the children in front of each other.

"One can only imagine how frightened they would have been seeing you losing your temper, knowing they were going to get whacked by the TV cable again.

"You have had a sad life. That would have been stressful and difficult in the way that all mothers have stress and difficulty coping with growing children.

"You become depressed about your circumstances.

"But none of this comes anywhere near to justifying beating young children with a TV cable.

"For the children you beat, I fear that custody will be something that would cause them further difficulty."

Prosecutor Andrew Howarth told the court the children no longer live with the mother.

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