Tanning passion lands US mum in court

Patricia Krentcil's tanning passion landed her in a US court Credit: Reuters

A mother from the US with a passion for tanning has appeared in court in New Jersey for allowing her young daughter into a tanning booth.

Patricia Krentcil, who is 44, pleaded not guilty to child endangerment before a judge in Newark.

Police were called by a nurse after her daughter, who was then just five, turned up at her primary school in Nutley on April 24 with sunburn.

It is illegal in New Jersey for anyone aged 14 or under to use ultraviolet devices due to the risk of skin cancer.

Patricia has denied bringing her fair-skinned daughter into the tanning booth of the salon where she goes.

She admits that she brought Anna with her, but insists she was in the room but not the booth.

Police were called after Anna Krentcil turned up to school with sunburn Credit: Reuters

City Tropics Tanning say they did not see Krentcil get into the booth with her daughter and add that police never came to speak to them about the incident.