"It was established the parent had genuinely forgotten the child was left in the the vehicle at the time and no charges will be preferred by police," she said.

It is believed shopping centre management used the centre's loud speakers to ask the vehicle owner to return to their car immediately.

An anonymous friend of the woman was quick to defend her character, saying this was the "first and last time this will ever happen."

"I am absolutely appalled at how people on social media are so quick to judge a situation that they know absolutely nothing about," he said.

"She already feels horrible for what she had [sic] done and now people are making it even worse."