A FOSTER mother has pleaded not guilty to allegations of child cruelty dating back 16 years.

Carol Brown, of Durham Road, Darlington, is accused of 17 charges of cruelty to three children under the age of 16.

The 58-year-old, who is married and suffers from ill health, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday to deny all the charges.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 1987 and April 1998, when Mrs Brown was a foster carer.

Between December 1987 and January 1995, she is alleged to have assaulted one youngster by hitting him with a slipper.

She is also accused of throwing a cup of tea at the child and, on a separate occasion, sitting on his chest and slapping him around the face and head.

In another incident, she is alleged to have beat him until he agreed not to report her behaviour to social services.

Mrs Brown is also accused of making him stand naked on a patio, forcing him to eat a mouldy sandwich and forcing him to sleep with his head under the duvet.

Between December 1987 and April 1998, she is accused of making another child eat her own vomit and making her stand naked outside as a punishment and then throwing cold water over her.

In another incident, Mrs Brown is alleged to have willfully ill-treated the same child by making her eat soap, shampoo and washing up liquid. She is also said to have forced her to eat a mouldy sandwich.

It is alleged she also threatened to take an overdose if the allegations were reported to social services.

Three other charges were also put to Mrs Brown during the hearing.

Mrs Brown is also charged with assaulting another child by hitting her with a slipper.

The case was adjourned for four weeks and no formal date was set for the next hearing, at Teesside Crown Court