Mum who glued toddler's hands: 'I'm not a monster'

DALLAS (AP) - A mother who admitted to beating her toddler and gluing the child's hands made a tearful plea for leniency on Wednesday, saying she was no longer the "monster" who committed the attack, allegedly over her daughter's potty training.

"I will never forgive myself for what I did to my own daughter," said Elizabeth Escalona, the 23-year-old woman who faces up to life in prison for attacking her then 2-year-old daughter, Jocelyn Cedillo.

Police say Escalona lost her temper in 2011 with Jocelyn over potty training problems. Escalona beat and kicked Jocelyn before sticking her hands to an apartment wall using an adhesive commonly known as Super Glue. The child was hospitalised for days.

Escalona pleaded guilty in July to felony injury to a child. Prosecutors are asking for a 45-year sentence.