Nursery deputy manager guilty of force-feeding children
A former deputy nursery manager has been found guilty of force-feeding children in her care and has been banned for life from working with children.
Gillian Gold was found guilty of force-feeding children at Country Kids Nursery in West Linton, in the Scottish Borders. Her daughter owns the nursery and Ms Gold worked there for more than two years.
Ms Gold denied the charges but was convicted and fined £1,000.
During the three-day trial, parents of children at the nursery spoke in defence of Ms Gold.
However, Peebles Sheriff Court heard from former and current nursery staff that Ms Gold had forced children's heads back to feed them.
Nursery worker Caroline Hall told the court that a baby 'was sick all over the place' after having milk poured into its mouth. Another worker, Nicola Hogg, claimed that Ms Gold restrained children and caused them to choke (News, 12 June).
The case was brought to court following a Care Commission investigation last year.
