Mom fined for giving toddler suds, smokes

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MALMO, Sweden, April 3 (UPI) -- A judge ordered a Swedish mother to pay a fine after she was convicted of encouraging her 3-year-old son to drink beer and giving him cigarettes.

The district court in Malmo convicted the woman Monday of harassment, narcotic crimes and unlawful procurement of alcohol, and ordered her to pay a $756 fine, The Local reported. The fine was reduced because she spent 20 days in jail after the incident was first reported several months ago.

In its ruling, the court said the mother's crimes egregious, considering they were "committed against a small and defenseless child, and occurred in the home of one of the people who should have been responsible for the child's safety."

The woman's children have been living in a foster home since the incident, which happened during a party in June after the mother smokes marijuana.

At the party, the 3-year-old boy was videoed as he was urged to smoke a cigarette his mother had given to him, The Local said.

The court record also indicated the mother didn't protest when other party-goers gave her son a beer.