A FIVE-year-old boy was forced to undergo surgery when his mother faked results of medical tests, a court heard.

Unsuspecting doctors repeatedly operated on the child to try to find out what was causing blood in his urine samples, Newport crown court was told.

Eventually it was discovered that his 37-year-old mother had been adding drops of her own blood to the samples in order to fake illness.

The woman, who cannot be named, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of child cruelty. Prosecution barrister Michael Mather-Lees said the woman claimed she felt neglected by her husband and had acted to get his attention.

On February 13, 2001 surgeons performed a kidney biopsy on the five-year-old. The boy's urine samples continued to show traces of blood and another invasive surgical procedure was carried out on February 12 2002. Eventually medical staff discovered that the boy's blood type was different to the blood in the urine and police were called in to investigate.

Mr Mather-Lees said: "Through her actions she subjected this young child to completely unnecessary surgical procedures including the use of general anaesthetic. This caused him substantial risk and great discomfort."

Defending barrister Andrew Jones said: "She is currently on anti-depressants and has been referred to St Cadoc's for psychiatric testing. Unfortunately she is still on a waiting list for the treatment."

Because of the delay in her treatment Mr Recorder P K Lewis, QC, said he was unable to immediately pass the sentence he wanted. Mr Lewis said: "In my mind the best course of action would be to impose a community penalty order with a condition that she receives psychiatric treatment at St Cadoc's. I cannot do that because it is not clear who would be responsible for her treatment."

The Recorder adjourned the sentencing until Friday so that defence solicitors could clarify the situation with the hospital.

But Mr Lewis warned: "If there is no clarification by Friday another judge will have to sentence the defendant and that judge may take a very different view from me and pass a different sentence."