How did the teacher react when the toddler struggled during feeding?

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Former Infant Care Teacher Jailed for Force-Feeding and Abusing Toddlers

A former infant care teacher has been sentenced to 14 months in jail for the mistreatment of children under her care, including the force-feeding of a one-year-old toddler. The abuse came to light after a whistle-blower reported suspected mistreatment, leading to a review of CCTV footage that exposed the pattern of abuse. The teacher's actions involved repeatedly forcing a milk bottle into a child's mouth, restraining the child, and continuing to strike the child even after they vomited.
Force-Feeding Incident Details

On September 23, 2024, the teacher was observed in a nap room with four children. When a one-year-old girl resisted drinking from her milk bottle, the teacher repeatedly pushed the bottle back into the child's mouth. During this process, the teacher held the child's head in place while the toddler struggled, kicked, and spat out milk, eventually vomiting.
Continued Physical Abuse After Vomiting

Despite the toddler's distress and subsequent vomiting, the teacher did not cease her actions. Instead, she proceeded to hit the child on both the head and back before removing her from the room. This physical abuse continued even after the child had shown clear signs of discomfort and sickness.
Wider Abuse and Investigation

The incidents involving this teacher, identified as the primary offender in this case, were uncovered following a report by an informant three days after the force-feeding incident. Upon reviewing CCTV footage, the pre-school discovered multiple instances of mistreatment involving this teacher and a colleague, referred to as B2. Both individuals were subsequently dismissed from their positions, and the Early Childhood Development Agency was alerted to the situation.
Sentencing and Legal Context

The prosecution sought a jail term of up to 16 months, emphasizing the vulnerability of infants. The court heard that Parliament had enhanced the Children and Young Persons Act in 2019, increasing penalties for child ill-treatment offences. The former teacher, who is subject to a gag order preventing her identification to protect the children, pleaded guilty to ill-treating the one-year-old girl, with two other charges concerning an eight-month-old boy and a 10-month-old girl considered during sentencing. Her colleague, B2, had previously received an eight-month and two-week jail sentence.

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How did the teacher react when the toddler struggled during feeding?

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