But she has been spared jail because judge said children would miss her

Found out after another parent alerted teachers at the children's school

A mother beat her children on their arms and backs with television cable

A mother who repeatedly beat her children across their arms, legs and backs with a television cable has been spared jail.

Northampton Crown Court heard the woman, who is in her 40s, hit the youngsters all over the bodies including their arms, legs, backs and hips.

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

Northampton Crown Court (pictured) heard the woman, who is in her 40s, hit the youngsters all over the bodies including their arms, legs, backs and hips, with a television cable

The court heard the woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, was caught after a fellow parent at her children's primary school raised concerns to the headteacher.

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 on two of the youngsters.

Their mother was arrested and gave a most 'no comment' interview to police.

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

The mother 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.

'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.'