A mum has lost custody of her children after hitting her son with a wooden spoon when he used her credit card to buy video games.
The single parent, 46, confiscated the boy's gaming console, took a spoon from the kitchen and smacked him on the bottom after discovering he had blown $600 (£344) on her card.
Her lawyer said the mum, from the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia, had experienced a 'brain snap with a difficult child' and she was 'extremely remorseful'.
She pleaded guilty to assault on Thursday at Southport Magistrates Court, reports 7news.
The court heard how the boy, who has ADHD and autism, used his unemployed mum's card to make the purchase in March.
After being hit with the spoon causing bruising, the 10-year-old lashed out kicking holes in the wall.
Child protective services were later informed about the incident and the mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to hitting her son in an interview with authorities.
Both her children were taken away from her and she is now only able to see them twice per week under supervision.
Magistrate Mark Bamberry gave the woman a nine-month probation order with no conviction recorded.
He sympathised with the mum but said that society had "moved on" from physically punishing children.
Speaking during her sentencing, he added: "I accept this completely out of character. I can understand why she’s done what she’s done.
"I can only imagine how difficult this is as a single mother with two children to make ends meet."
A parent's 'right' to smack a child gained considerable attention in recent years following New Zealand legislation passed in 2007 banning the physical punishment of children.
In Queensland, mums and dads are able to use 'reasonable' force 'under the circumstances' to correct or discipline their child.
Extreme force is illegal but it is not against the law for parents to use discipline such as a smack.
If parents use more force than is necessary, such as using implements or hitting a child's head or neck, this could be illegal.
Child abuse can include issues such as physical abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.
Physical abuse includes hitting, punching, slapping, strangling, kicking, shaking, biting, throwing, burning and any actions that harm the child's body.
