A WOMAN accused of causing a toddler to be admitted to hospital by exposing him to fake Valium tablets has walked free from court.

Anne Keevins, 38, of Renfrew, was alleged to have exposed the toddler to unnecessary suffering or danger to health after the child ingested Etizolam pills.

Etizolam is similar to Diazepam, which is also known as Valium and is now illegal, having previously been classed as a ‘legal high’.

The case against Keevins began after the child, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was admitted to hospital on March 27. She was later detained and charged before appearing in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Prosecutors claimed she broke the Children And Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 on the day in question.

The charge against her stated she “did wilfully expose” the child to Etizolam tablets in a manner likely to cause it unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Keevins also faced a second charge she was in possession of cannabis, a class B drug, at her home on the same date.

She was due to go on trial over the claims but struck a deal with prosecutors which saw her plead guilty to one charge in exchange for a second being dropped.

Keevins admitted being in possession of cannabis on the day in question, while the charge she had endangered the toddler was dropped.

Sentence was deferred for background reports on the best way to deal with Keevins.

In November, defence Solicitor Advocate Paul Coyle asked for a fine to be imposed as a punishment, but Sheriff James Spy opted to adjourn the case until this week and gave her conditions to abide by.

When Keevins returned to the dock yesterday to learn her fate, it emerged she had managed to stay out of trouble.

After Keevins said she no longer took street drugs and was finding staying clean “a lot better,” Sheriff Frances McCartney admonished her – meaning the matter shows on her record of previous convictions but there is no punishment.