Girls' heads forced down toilet

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A woman inflicted three years of abuse on two young girls including hitting them with a belt and flushing their heads in a toilet.

Sheena Paterson, 47, also held the girls' faces in cold bath water, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard.

Paterson admitted attacking the children, aged four and six when the abuse began, between March 2004 and May 2007 at an address in Edinburgh.

Sentence was deferred on Paterson until next month for background reports.

The older child had a pillow or cushion placed over her face and threats to kill her were made by Paterson which clearly upset the child Melanie WardFiscal depute

Fiscal depute Melanie Ward told the court concerns had been raised and the children were then interviewed by the authorities.

Ms Ward said: "It transpired both children had been placed in the bath whilst clothed and their heads were held under water."

During an interview the older child said Paterson had dunked their heads under water for about seven seconds at a time, that the water was deep enough for their faces to be covered and was cold.

Ms Ward also said Paterson forced the youngsters' heads down a toilet before flushing it.

She said: "There were also times when both children had their heads struck against a wall.

"The older child had a pillow or cushion placed over her face and threats to kill her were made by Paterson which clearly upset the child."

The fiscal depute added that on one occasion a chair was thrown by Paterson, which hit one of the girls on the head, leaving her with a cut above her eye.

Ms Ward told the court the incidents had a "traumatic effect" on the two children.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told Paterson: "It is a sorry tale of violence towards these children."