An Aberdeenshire woman has admitted assaulting three children, including one who was just seven-years-old.
Emma Reid, 36, also pleaded guilty to causing a dog “unnecessary suffering”.
She admitted four offences in total, between January 2010 and last September, when she appeared at the city’s sheriff court yesterday.
All of the incidents took place at a property in Balmedie.
Fiscal depute, Sophie Hanlon, told the court that Reid, of Craighall Court, Ellon, attacked a seven-year-old girl by hitting her over the head with a hair brush and banging her leg on a radiator.
This left the girl with swelling and bruising to her head.
In a separate incident, the court heard Reid began arguing with a then 13-year-old boy and threw a “confectionery item” at him, which hit him near his eye, leaving it bruised and swollen.
Miss Hanlon told the court that, in another incident, Reid was arguing with a 16-year-old girl when she dragged her by the hair and hit over the head with a wellington boot.
Finally, the court was told that Reid was washing her pet dog when she lost her temper and hit the animal with a shower head.
Defence agent, Liam McAllister, told the court Reid had never been in trouble, prior to these incidents, and was otherwise of “impeccable character”.
He said Reid had been under significant pressure due to a “cancerous relationship’ from which she had now extricated herself.
Mr McAllister told the court his client was “utterly appalled” by her actions and was ashamed that she had lost control.
He said her abuse to the dog was a “momentary lapse of judgement” after she became angry with her then partner.
Mr McAllister said it was likely reports would be needed so he would reserve any further mitigation on her behalf until a future hearing.
Sheriff Christine McCrossan called for reports and deferred sentence until April.