Woman ditched boy at station to drink

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A WOMAN left her young grandson unattended at a train station while she went to a bar, a court has been told.

The woman, who cannot be named, sat the six-year-old down at a table at Brisbane's Central Station on December 19 last year, telling him she was just ducking in to the newsagency.

But she went to a nearby bar instead for a drink, leaving the boy alone for 15 minutes, the Brisbane District Court was told on Wednesday.

The court heard the boy searched for his grandmother in the newsagency and became distressed when he couldn't find her.

A shop worker took the frightened boy to the station master, who made two public announcements, which went unanswered.

When his grandmother finally arrived to collect him, she became abusive and punched the station master in the face, causing him to lose a tooth.

She then returned to the bar and continued drinking, leaving the boy with rail staff. When police approached her a short time later, she then tried to bite and kick them, the court was told.

The woman, who lives on the Gold Coast, pleaded guilty to one count each of leaving a child under 12 unattended, obstructing a police officer and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Judge Michael Shanahan sentenced her to two years' probation, and ordered she undergo treatment for alcohol abuse as required.