A nursery worker has been found guilty of assault today after she drew on a toddler’s face with permanent marker while he slept.
Laura Houston took pictures of the little boy as he slept after she had drawn on his face but today said she had done nothing wrong.
The 25-year-old today was convicted of assaulting three one-year-olds that were in her care from August 2014 until February 2015.
However, the court also found her guilty of assaulting another boy who she tripped by pulling his legs from under him causing him to hit his face on the floor.
All of Houston's attacks were witnessed by junior nursery workers who testified against her in court this week.
Jennifer Mackie told the court of the first incident saying:
“The boy had a moustache drawn over his top lip.
“Laura was, at that time, taking a picture with one of the nursery cameras of him with the pen on his face. Logan said Laura had drawn on his face.
“I looked at Laura and she confirmed that.”
She went on to talk about other incidents she had witness while she worked with Houston.
“I had seen Laura tripping up the children as well.
“I witnessed Laura calling [one boy] over and putting her leg out and tripping him over.
“The boy fell over and fell to the ground. He started crying as he’d obviously fell and hurt himself.
“She picked him up as if she’d done nothing wrong and just calmed him down.”
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew clearly warned Houston that there may be jail time as result of her actions.
“This is an anxious case for all – for the accused, for the witnesses, for the children and the parents. You were in a position of trust.
“Your assaults on three separate children aged one over a period of months constitutes, in my view, a serious breach of the trust the parents and guardians of the children placed in you.
“I require to consider all sentencing options which may be open to me.”
