London, Jan 23 (ANI): A 24-year-old Brit woman has pleaded guilty for allowing her three-year-old son to smoke.

Kelly Pocock was arrested and charged with cruelty to a child under 16.

Natasha Dudley, 25, a family friend, was astonished to see the child puffing away while his mum was on the phone in the same room.

She said it looked like the youngster had been smoking for "years".

Worried Dudley used her mobile to film him and showed the video to social workers who alerted cops.

Shocked Judge John Curron said that the case was "appalling".

"This is one of the most extraordinary I have ever come across," The Sun quoted Judge Curron as saying.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said: "She found him under a bed with cigarettes. He was smoking one and Miss Dudley said it looked like he had been smoking for many years.

"When the boy was taken downstairs he went into the living room where he picked up a cigarette butt from an ashtray and smoked it.

"Pocock was on the telephone at the time so Miss Dudley decided to film the boy, such was her concern," he added.

However, Pocock claimed she had not noticed him and was "shocked".

Judge Curron said the video proved her son knew how to use a lighter.

"He would not have been able to smoke without discomfort unless he had acquired a habit," he said.

Pocock has been pleaded guilty and was given a suspended 40-week prison sentence along with a 12-month supervision order. (ANI)