Four-year-old allegedly 'poisoned with anti-depressant and sleeping drug'

A Wollongong mother and her partner have been bailed after their four-year-old son was allegedly poisoned with anti-depressants and a sleeping tablet.

The couple hid their faces when they appeared in Port Kembla court today charged with giving the boy the sleeping pill temazepam and anti-depressant Amitriptyline over two days in October.

Police launched an investigation into the incident after the 30-year-old’s son presented to hospital slurring his words and going in and out of consciousness two months ago.

Doctors told investigators the boy had a restricted prescribed drug in his system, was severely underweight for his age and had previous upper limb fractures.

Prescription drugs were seized when the couple’s home was raided on October 12.

The boy’s mother was charged with using poison to endanger life, and failure to provide for a child in case of danger or serious injury on November 20.

Her 29-year-old partner was charged with failing to provide for the child causing danger of serious injury.

The boy is now in the care of the Department of Family and Community Services.

Police have taken an apprehended violence order against the women.

Neither have entered pleas in court today.

They will reappear in court next year.