Dad with "shared custody" abandons kids for 4 months (Nelson, Australia)

Here's one for all you "shared custody" fans, who think that "shared custody" is always in order regardless of the parents involved. It ain't.

UNNAMED DAD got shared custody of his kids--in fact a "six month split." While the kids were with Dad, Dad apparently decided that he'd rather spend time with his new honey--alone, thank you very much--so he just left his 9-year-old and 14-year-old at home alone to fend for themselves. Not for a few hours or a day, mind you. FOR 4 MONTHS. The kids were told that they wouldn't get to see their mother again if they told. The house wasn't even furnished--sounds like they had little more than blankets.

The excuse? Dad was "depressed." Hey, I'm an open-minded kind of gal. I'll listen to the ravings of nut cases who thought that angels were commanding them to drown their kids in olive oil, and I'll evaluate the parent's mental health status according. But I'm not buying the "depressed" line.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/2785720/Dad-admits-leaving-kids-home-alone

Dad admits leaving kids home alone
The Nelson Mail
Last updated 13:00 25/08/2009

A man who left his two children to fend for themselves in an unfurnished home while he was with his new partner was convicted in the Nelson District Court yesterday.

The 38-year-old man, who has interim name suppression, admitted two charges of leaving a child for an unreasonable time without making reasonable provision for supervision and care.

The court heard the man received shared custody of his nine-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter in January this year. The man and the children's mother, who started a new life in Australia with a new partner, received six months' custody each.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer told the court that from March 14 until July 22 the defendant spent most of his time in Richmond with his new partner and usually left the children alone at the family home.

Although friends and family provided food and some care for the children, the girl was described as feeling "scared and sad" during these times.

Their father occasionally dropped off food to them, but the girl had to provide most of the meals, took her brother to school and cared for him at night, Mr Stringer said. He said neither child wanted to get their father in trouble so kept quiet about their situation.

A Child Youth and Family report said the department made numerous attempts to contact the father, who had told the children to hide when CYF came to the door and not to open it to the agency. Their father told the children that they would not get to see their mother in Australia if they did.

He then took away all furniture and left them in a bare house, with blankets the only furnishings.
Mr Stringer said the defendant admitted to police that his level of care had fallen below an acceptable standard and it had put both children at serious risk of harm.

Judge Graeme Noble said he was concerned about the consequences to the children.

Duty solicitor Mark Dollimore said the man was suffering depression, had not felt able to look after his children, and wanted to co-operate as much as he could. The man was convicted and remanded at large until sentencing on September 29.