Bronzed mother denies tanning 5 year old child

2012-05-03 70

Out of the UV glow, and into the media glare.

Patricia Krentcil has a passion for tanning, but she's now found herself in court accused of allowing her then 5-year-old daughter to use a tanning booth.

The New Jersey Mum said she brought her child with her into the room, but not the booth itself.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PATRICIA KRENTCIL:

"I tan, she doesn't tan. It's called a tanning booth and a tanning room."

The alarm was raised when Anna Krentcil turned up to school with a sunburn.

But the mother rejected the idea that it was due to the tanning booth, pleading not guilty to a charge of child endangerment.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PATRICIA KRENTCIL:

"I'm not gonna bring my little daughter into a 90 degree bed. I mean, that's not normal."

The owner of City Tropics tanning said his staff did not see Krentcil take her daughter with her into the stand up booth.

Simon Hanna, Reuters.