by Ian Elliot
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 10/97) - A babysitter who pleaded guilty to slapping a nine-month-old baby she was looking after pleaded guilty to assault Tuesday in territorial court.

The woman, who has two children of her own under the age of two, was sentenced to a nominal one day in jail, which she will not have to serve, and six months probation as Judge Michel Bourassa issued a warning that adults cannot take their frustrations out on infants and children.

"Violence against children will never be tolerated and it will be denounced in the most vigorous ways," he said prior to sentencing the woman.

Bourassa noted that the court has sent parents to jail for abusing children in other cases and added that the sentence was meant as "a warning to you and all other mothers and fathers."

Court heard that the baby's parents had been leaving their child in the woman's care for several months and when the young boy was picked up late in the afternoon of July 24, the father noticed the boy's cheeks were red.

At that time, the sitter claimed the baby had fallen down some stairs and should be taken to the hospital.

After consulting with doctors, the RCMP questioned the woman, who changed her story and admitted slapping the baby across the cheeks because he would not stop crying that day.

In court Tuesday, the woman said she was sorry for her actions that day, plans to apologize to the parents and no longer takes care of children other than her own.