A man and woman have been charged with child neglect offences in northern NSW, NSW Police say.
Police were called to Fingal Street at Brunswick Heads yesterday (Wednesday 27 December 2017), where they found a distressed seven-year-old boy allegedly locked in a parked vehicle.
Officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command attended and removed the child from the car before taking him to hospital where he is continuing to receive treatment.
An investigation commenced and police were told by witnesses they saw the child allegedly being assaulted by a man a short time earlier.
It’s alleged the man dragged and kicked the boy, causing him to fall to the ground.
A man and woman were arrested after returning to the vehicle and both were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.
Following further inquiries, police will allege the boy was also physically assaulted by the man at a beach on Tuesday (26 December 2017).
The 43-year-old man was subsequently charged with the following offences:
- assault occasioning actual bodily harm;
- leave child/young person in motor vehicle causing emotional distress;
- common assault;
- stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm; and
- leave young person in motor vehicle thus impairing health.
The Boorowa man was bail refused to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today (Thursday 28 December 2017).
The 45-year-old woman was charged with leave child/young person in vehicle causing emotional distress; and leave child/young person in vehicle thus impairing health.
The woman, also from Boorowa, was given bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on 11 January 2018.
Arrangements are being made for the child’s ongoing care.
