Nursery worker jailed after smearing food over toddler’s face
A nursery worker has pleaded guilty to assault for smearing food all over a toddler’s face.
Helen Walker, 49, of Mansfield, will serve five months in jail after being sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday.
In addition to assault, she also pleaded guilty to one count of ill-treatment and of neglect of a child.
The incident is understood to have taken place in February last year.
Walker was accused in court of scooping up scraps of leftover food and pushing them into the toddler’s face.
She subsequently ignored the child’s cries of distress.
Police analysed CCTV footage from the nursery and found Walker had indeed pushed the food into the face of the toddler, who is understood to have additional needs.
The video further showed how Walker afterwards attempted to cover up her crime.
In the footage, she is seen approaching another child and loudly suggesting the victim had stolen food from them.
Jacqui Edwards, an investigator with Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘Nursery staff are placed in the ultimate position of trust to care for young children.
‘Walker betrayed that trust with these appalling actions, which are further aggravated by the fact our young victim has additional needs.
‘She then tried to portray the child as a troublemaker in an attempt to conceal what she had done.
‘The safeguarding of children is of paramount importance to the force. Once alerted to this offence, specialist officers have carried out a thorough investigation which has led to this outcome in court.
‘I would like to thank the child’s parents for their help through what must have been a very difficult experience. We will continue to support them in any way we can.
‘Nursery staff and management should also be commended for taking immediate action against Walker and informing police.
‘They have also supported our investigation throughout.’
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