A woman has leapt over her neighbour's fence in Canberra to rescue a two-year-old child allegedly left alone with two dogs, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Monday.
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The toddler's mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed she took a codeine tablet, had a drink and "went to bed with a headache" before waking to police taking her children away on Sunday.
She has been charged with neglecting children, two counts of unlawfully confining a person and two counts of resisting a territory public official. She has not made a plea to the charges.
The neighbour said she saw the toddler alone in the backyard, called the police and banged on the front door of the house.
The neighbour told police she could hear yelling and doors slamming inside the home, but jumped over the fence and grabbed the child when no one answered.
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Police said when they arrived at the home, the mother answered the door appearing "intoxicated" and asking where her children were.
They said the toddler appeared to have a full nappy and nappy rash.
The mother allegedly resisted police taking her two-year-old child.
She has also been accused of locking two older children in a converted garage.
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In court, the woman was granted bail but is not allowed within 100 metres of her children or to drink alcohol.
The mother initially did not accept the order she not contact her youngest child, who is in the care of friends.
"This is ridiculous, I went to sleep with a headache," the woman said before accepting the condition.
She is scheduled to return to court in late April.
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