A woman charged with failing to report a crime and cruelty to a child, after a teenager who was under her care became pregnant and was taken to do an abortion, was sternly warned when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

The court was told that the complainant was under the care of the accused when she became pregnant. It is alleged that the accused, along with others, plotted to cover up the pregnancy and took the child to have an abortion.

The police were somehow alerted and the accused was taken into custody.

She told the court, however, that the child was no longer in her care and was living with a female relative.

Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey told the accused that persons like her should not be allowed to walk free. She said, "People like you should be behind bars."

The accused was told that she should not be seen within 100 feet of the complainant, her home, school or anywhere she hangs out. She was also told not to contact the complainant through any means.

The matter returns on March 29.