A 67-year-old nursery manager has avoided jail after admitting to three counts of child cruelty at a south London nursery in 2021.
Karen White headbutted a two-year-old boy before saying: "That's the only way he'll learn."
The grandmother-of-15 made the remark after the toddler had allegedly headbutted another child.
White, who is also a grandmother, pushed her forehead against the boy and "applied pressure" during the incident at the nursery, the Old Bailey heard.
White was also found to have shoved the same boy into a sensory board as punishment.
In another incident, she pulled a child's arm, causing them to fall and hit their head.
The court heard White showed "blatant disregard" for the children in her care at the south London nursery.
In a victim impact statement, the mother of the non-verbal boy said he now "cowers" when carers approach him.
"I will never forgive myself for putting my child in the situation he was by putting him in the care of Karen," she wrote.
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The mother added that her son suffered night terrors almost every night while in White's care.
"It's sad I will never be able to fully trust anyone with my son again," she stated.
White claimed the context of the incidents had been "misunderstood" but entered guilty pleas to expedite the conclusion of the case.
The court heard she had spent her entire life working in childcare and had conducted an "enormous" amount of voluntary work.
Judge Lynn Tayton noted: "The letters I have read have only good things to say about you."
The judge added: "It becomes baffling as to why someone with your track record has committed these offences."
White has since retired and lives on her state pension while volunteering at a charity shop.
The 67-year-old was sentenced to a 24-month community order at the Old Bailey.
The sentence includes a requirement to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
She must also undertake 12 hours of rehabilitation activity.
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Karen White headbutted a two-year-old boy before saying: "That's the only way he'll learn."
The grandmother-of-15 made the remark after the toddler had allegedly headbutted another child.
White, who is also a grandmother, pushed her forehead against the boy and "applied pressure" during the incident at the nursery, the Old Bailey heard.
White was also found to have shoved the same boy into a sensory board as punishment.
In another incident, she pulled a child's arm, causing them to fall and hit their head.
The court heard White showed "blatant disregard" for the children in her care at the south London nursery.
In a victim impact statement, the mother of the non-verbal boy said he now "cowers" when carers approach him.
"I will never forgive myself for putting my child in the situation he was by putting him in the care of Karen," she wrote.
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The mother added that her son suffered night terrors almost every night while in White's care.
"It's sad I will never be able to fully trust anyone with my son again," she stated.
White claimed the context of the incidents had been "misunderstood" but entered guilty pleas to expedite the conclusion of the case.
The court heard she had spent her entire life working in childcare and had conducted an "enormous" amount of voluntary work.
Judge Lynn Tayton noted: "The letters I have read have only good things to say about you."
The judge added: "It becomes baffling as to why someone with your track record has committed these offences."
White has since retired and lives on her state pension while volunteering at a charity shop.
The 67-year-old was sentenced to a 24-month community order at the Old Bailey.
The sentence includes a requirement to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
She must also undertake 12 hours of rehabilitation activity.
Find Out More...