Launtia Cuff, Star Writer

Erica Cummings pleaded guilty to cruelty against a child when she appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Cummings was arrested and charged after kicking her eight-year-old child from a step.

A social enquiry was ordered and Resident Magistrate Ann-Marie Nembhard said that as a result of Cummings being a hard-working woman who cared for her children, she would be given a two-year suspended sentence.

The enquiry, however, revealed that it had not been the first case of Cummings disciplining a child in an inappropriate manner. As a result, Resident Magistrate Nembhard strongly warned Cummings about any further acts of cruelty against children and assured her that she would not be as fortunate if she appeared before her again in any such case.

Cummings was ordered to attend parenting workshops as a part of her sentence.