Mother's choice of punishment stuns police and neighbours in the States

A 22-year-old mother in New York has been charged with endangering the welfare of her child after her son was found to tied to a bush outside an apartment complex.

Mery Isabel Quinde Castro was reportedly punishing her little boy for refusing to enter the complex with her where she was due to babysit.

Using his backpack as a harness, the four-year-old boy’s mother tied him to the bush where he remained alone for thirty minutes until neighbours alerted the police to the scene.

Questioning his mother, police were informed that the boy need ‘a time-out’ – an admission which did not sit well with Police Chief, Paul Modica.

Commenting on the woman’s questionable mode of punishment, the Spring Valley official said: “I mean, there were so many other things she could have done with the child.”

While Ms. Castro’s sister leaped to her sister’s defence, neighbours who witnessed the scene expressed their disgust for the woman’s actions, saying: “It befuddles me why she would tie a child up to a tree - almost like a dog.”

Ms. Castro is due in court on Thursday morning.