‘Nursery dream shattered by child cruelty charges’
AWOMAN who dreamed of working with children and owning her own nursery has seen her “dream shattered” after being brought before the courts to face child cruelty charges.
Katie Davies’ representative said that no matter what verdict the jury returns her client’s “dream has become a nightmare”.
Davies opened the Bright Sparks nursery in Taibach in 2014, after buying a former chapel and investing money to convert the property; gradually building up a thriving business.
But it was closed last year following allegations brought by students on work placements at the business, including that staff manhandled youngsters, force fed them and lifted them by the wrists.
Davies, aged 32, of King Street, Port Talbot, faces one joint charge of restraining and force-feeding a child at the nursery, a charge she denies.
A trial opened at Swansea Crown Court last week, and legal arguments came to an end yesterday, with representatives of each defendant making their closing statements.
Stephen Donnelly, for Davies, told the jury: “Katie Davies’ dream is shattered. That is gone. But I am confident you will do the right thing and the just thing.”
However, earlier he told the jury: “Her experience, character, education and training all go to point to the positive in her behaviour, that this was a genuine enterprise for her, and it would be madness to let it slip away either by her or malice of others.
“For Katie Davies, childcare was a vocation that has moved close to being realised, but that dream has become a nightmare as she awaits your judgement”.
He highlighted that a Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales report had concluded the nursery was “caring and friendly with a relaxed atmosphere”.
Also facing charges with Davies is nursery deputy manager Christina Pinchess, 32, of Cwmavon, who faces six charges – one of them jointly – of force feeding a child, covering a child’s mouth with her hand to stop it crying and picking up a child by its wrists.
Stephen Rees, for Pinchess, told the court: “The prosecution says it is common sense if a toddler is picked up by the hands or wrists that it is extremely dangerous or there is a risk of harm.
“Where is the expert evidence from experts in paediatrics to say what the witnesses have described is very dangerous?
“She has been employed in childcare almost her entire life and employers have spoken of her glowingly in terms of her performance and work ethic.”
Twenty-two-year-old Shelbie Forgan, of Mariners Point, Sandfields, faces one charge of picking up a child by its wrists, and a joint charge of restraining and force feeding a child.
John Hipkin, for Forgan, told the jury: “The allegation is she is guilty of a criminal offence of child cruelty, ill-treating children in front of her bosses, in front of members of staff, in front of work experience placements. It is a little bit odd.
“Where is evidence of any mark? Where is the evidence of any injury? Not one parent said ‘I noticed a mark’. It is even odder the Crown does not bring any medical experts to help us.”
Earlier, prosecutor David Scutt told the jury: “This is not a case about monsters, it is a case about fallible human beings. This case is about frustration and loss of patience, and loss of control, lapses in what was undoubtedly a well-run and well supported nursery, which was fine for the majority of the time.”
A verdict is expected today.