A Clevedon mother who sent disturbing photos of her 18-month-old daughter, including one alongside the word ‘dead’, to the father’s new partner has been spared jail.

Kerry Elvin, aged 24, stuffed a tissue in the mouth of her then six-month-old baby daughter in another picture after she became jealous of ex-partner Paul Robinson’s new relationship, Bristol Crown Court was told.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of cruelty to a person under 16 years old and was handed a 12-month suspended sentence and a rehabilitation requirement.

Elvin, whose daughter has already been taken away by social services, used the 18-month-old ‘as a tool in warfare’, judge Neil Ford said.

He also added that any more children she has in future might also be removed from her care.

Issues begun after Elvin and Mr Robinson split up the court heard, as she unleashed insults towards his new partner and sent the two photographs, among others.

One of the photographs found its way onto social media and the police were contacted.

At that point Elvin begun to receive threats and went into temporary accommodation, while her daughter was taken away by social services.

The judge, sentencing Elvin on Thursday, said: “Your actions have deprived you of your children and may be also of any further child you may have.

“I am satisfied your behaviour is at least, to an extent, as a result of personality and functioning difficulties you have experienced because of your own upbringing.

“Your behaviour was irresponsible and thoughtless. It was wholly disproportionate to the personal difficulties you were facing. You used your young child as a tool in that warfare.

“If you behave to a child in a like manner in the future, no court will be able to show you any mercy at all, and nor should it.”

Elvin, of Mantle Close, also received a 25-day rehabilitation order, to be completed within the next year.