A Cumbrian mum whose life "spiralled out of control" when she discovered her partner was cheating on her has pleaded guilty to child cruelty.

The woman wept as a Carlisle Crown Court judge was told the background to the three offences she admitted.

Nicholas Clarke, prosecuting, told the court that police became involved in January of 2018 after they were contacted by the children's grandparents, who had seen a concerning Snapchat post which worried them.

It showed the defendant in her home, partially undressed and taking drugs, said Mr Clarke.

Earlier, the prosecutor outlined how the woman - in her 30s and was the sole care of her children - had been coping well as a mother.

Social workers who had contact with the family were not concerned because the children - all aged under 10 - appeared well cared for.

The house where they lived was in good order and the children were "clean and tidy", said Mr Clarke. But in the autumn of 2017 things began to deteriorate.

The teachers at the school where some of the children were pupils became concerned.

There were occasions when nobody had arrived at the school to collect the children, who would often arrive inappropriately dressed for the cold winter weather.

In late January, 2018, said Mr Clarke, the children's grandparents decided to contact the police: "There had been a collection of Snapchat photos which showed the defendant in a state of undress, taking drugs, at the house," said the prosecutor.

Police went to the woman's house.

The children's bedroom smelled of excrement, which was found smeared on a toy. Discarded on the floor were used nappies. Inside a tumble drier in a bedroom police found were empty drinks bottles and a credit card which had traces of cocaine on it.

The woman said the cocaine had nothing to do with her.

"She said that the previous night she had let her hair down a bit with alcohol and drugs after the children had gone to bed.

Judith McCullough, defending, said the defendant had previously coped well with being a mother.

"She's a mother who is a survivor of domestic abuse and up until the time when her life spiralled out of control she was able to cope," said the barrister.

"She discovered her partner was having an affair... and it was at that stage that the bottom fell out of her world. She found it very difficult to cope with her emotions - let alone those of her very much loved children."

She woman felt betrayed and began drinking more than she normally would. Whatever the outcome of the case, said the barrister, she had already suffered the worst kind of punishment - by losing the chance to care for her children.

"That's something that has devastated her," said Miss McCullough, as the defendant sat in the dock weeping. Once the case was over, added the barrister, the woman would redouble her efforts to get back her children.

Recorder David Swinnerton accepted that the woman had already suffered punishment through losing her children; and that she had cared well for her children previously.

He added: "Your life somewhat fell apart in 2017... and you suffered the worst sort of betrayal that your partner could do to you."
He imposed an 18-month community order with 20 days rehabilitation.