The 55-year-old woman, who the JEP has chosen not to name to protect the identity of the boy, was told her offences were so serious against a child who lacked the ability to express his concerns through speech that she could have been sent to jail.
But instead, Magistrate Bridget Shaw imposed a 100-hour community service order – the equivalent of four months in prison. The defendant did not react as the verdict and sentence was delivered, a decision that her defence advocate admitted would likely cost her her job which she had held for many years.
Following the Magistrate’s verdict, Advocate Christina Hall, defending, spoke of her client’s clean criminal record and her dedication to her work.
She added that there were senior members from the Education Department sitting in the public gallery supporting the defendant.
Read the full report in Thursday’s JEP.
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