Mother sentenced for allowing 3-year-old to smoke

A British woman has pleaded guilty to child cruelty for allowing her 3-year-old to smoke in front of her. Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said video taken by a mobile phone showed the small child popping a cigarette into his mouth.

A British woman has pleaded guilty to child cruelty for allowing her 3-year-old to smoke in front of her.

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Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said video taken by a mobile phone showed the small child popping a cigarette into his mouth, lighting it with a lighter and taking a drag.

Rees told a court in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil that the boy's mother, 24-year-old Kelly Marie Pocock, was sitting next to him and talking on the phone at the time.

The film was shot by Pocock's friend, Natasha Dudley, who showed the footage to social workers.

Judge John Curran said on Thursday it was clear Pocock's child was a habitual smoker and called the situation appalling.