A woman accused of telling doctors her two-year-old son accidentally ate paint thinner when in fact he had consumed drugs has pleaded not guilty to child neglect.
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The 36-year-old's child was hospitalised on December 8 last year with suspected poisoning after an incident at his South Penrith home.
Police allege the woman, who can't be identified, told doctors the toddler had consumed paint thinner.
The child's condition deteriorated and he had to be airlifted to The Sydney Children's Hospital for treatment.
Testing later revealed the child had a variety of drugs in his system.
Child Abuse Squad detectives later raided the South Penrith home, seizing a number of items. The home now has an eviction notice on it, with the child's mother having moved to another suburb in the north west suburbs.
On May 5, police arrested the 36-year-old woman and charged her with neglect and failure to care for a child.
She appeared in Penrith Local Court on Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to both offences.
Accompanied by her lawyer Michael Bellingham, she told waiting reporters to "f--- off" as she left the court house.
It is understood the woman's son is no longer in her care and is making a slow recovery.
The case was adjourned to July 4 and her bail was continued.
