A Merrylands woman who left her two children in an unattended vehicle has been fined $1000.
Maryam Hosseini, 33, fronted Parramatta Local Court today charged with ‘leaving children in a motor vehicle, causing emotional distress’.
On December 28, 2022, Hosseini left a two-year-old and six-year-old inside her vehicle while she went into Woolworths in Granville.
The court heard that they were in the car for at least 20 minutes before police were alerted by a concerned witness.
According to police, the front and rear windows were down about an inch.
They say they managed to force a window open, unlock the doors and call an ambulance to assist the children who were sweating, flushed and appeared to be dehydrated.
Hosseini told police that “she had to purchase something in the store and it did not take her that long”.
She further stated that it was her first time leaving the children in the vehicle unattended.
Hosseini, with the assistance of a Dari interpreter, pleaded guilty at the earliest available opportunity.
She was represented by a lawyer who asked Magistrate Kate Thompson to consider giving her client a community correction order without conviction.
The court heard that Hosseini has no prior criminal record and is otherwise a person of good character.
However, the Magistrate expressed concerns over leaving children unattended at any time, let alone during “the height of summer”.
She told the court that there needs to be general deterrence so other good and caring parents do not take the same shortcut.
“The consequences can be devastating,” Magistrate Thompson said.
Hosseini was convicted of the single offence and fined $1000.
Formerly with the ABC, Makayla is a graduate of Western Sydney University. She covers a variety of news topics for Parra News.