Former My Kitchen Rules contestant Claudean Uamaki-Mu has been sentenced to two years in prison for cruelty to two children, but was released on immediate parole after appearing in a Brisbane court on Monday, August 31.
The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty to children. She was discharged on 12 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and charges of assault occasioning bodily harm. ([7news.com.au](https://7news.com.au/news/court-justice/former-my-kitchen-rule-star-claudean-uamaki-mu-walks-free-after-pleading-guilty-to-child-cruelty–c-22803305?utm_source=openai))
The District Court heard that Uamaki-Mu subjected two girls to years of physical abuse, including pushing, swearing at and hitting them. One girl was also struck with a cane.
In victim impact statements, both women described the continuing effect of the abuse.
One said she had been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder after receiving consistent therapy and was unable to work because of flashbacks, intrusive memories and a constant fear of danger.
The other said she developed an eating disorder and became dependent on alcohol as a way of escaping her anxiety.
“I hated myself, I believed I was the issue,” she told the court. “Some mornings I wake up in tears because I’m still alive.”
Chief Judge Brian Devereaux, SC, described Uamaki-Mu’s conduct as “appalling” and said the children had been left in a state of terror.
“What’s appalling is that you treated them the way you did. It’s criminal,” he said, adding that she had left “a trail of misery”.
The court heard Uamaki-Mu had experienced violence during her own childhood and that mental illness may have contributed to her offending. Her sentence means she will not spend further time in custody unless she breaches her parole conditions.
Her husband, Anthony Mu, accompanied her to court. He was found not guilty in March of separate assault-related charges after a Brisbane Magistrates Court hearing. ([thewitness.com.au](https://thewitness.com.au/my-kitchen-rules-star-anthony-mu-found-not-guilty-of-assaults/?utm_source=openai))
The couple appeared together on the 2023 season of the Channel Seven cooking programme, where they were known for Italian-inspired dishes. They also ran a market stall selling traditional Italian food.
