A MOTHER and daughter from Greenock found guilty of multiple charges of assault and ill-treatment of children spanning five-and-a-half years have been spared prison.

Melissa Smith, 42, and her 22-year-old daughter Kelsea Smith, both of Larkfield, were convicted of wilfully ill-treating the children "in a manner that would cause suffering and injury to health", as well as assaulting them and uttering threats of violence.

The offences were committed between August 2016 and March 2022.

The duo appeared at the town’s sheriff court for sentencing on six charges following a trial earlier this year.

Melissa Smith uttered threats of violence towards the children and assaulted one of them by repeatedly punching and slapping them various occasions.

She also injured the same child by striking them with a piece of wood or similar object.

Melissa Smith  also assaulted a second child on various occasions between May 2017 and March 2022 by slapping them on the head, and assaulted a third child between the same dates by repeatedly punching and slapping them on the head and body.

Kelsea Smith, meanwhile, assaulted one of the children by repeatedly striking them on the head and body and grabbing their finger to the child’s injury between 2016 and 2022.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser placed both accused on community payback orders and told them to carry out unpaid work as a punishment. (Image: contributed)

Kelsea Smith also slapped a second child on the face, struck her on the body and pulled her by the hair on various occasions between May 2017 and March 2022.

Melissa Smith had originally faced accusations of neglect, failing to maintain adequate standards of cleanliness and failing to provide enough food or proper clothing, but those elements of the charge were deleted.

The case against both accused originally called at Greenock Sheriff Court in December 2022, when both accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them.

At the sentencing hearing solicitor Gerry Keenan, defending Kelsea Smith, said his client had shown remorse for her behaviour.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser placed each of the accused on a community payback order with 12 months of supervision by social workers.

Melissa Smith was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within six months, while Kelsea Smith was told to carry out 50 hours of work within the same time period.