A nursery worker has been sentenced to three years in jail for the abuse of children under her care at Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. Rebecca Gregory’s offences came to light during a police investigation into the tragic death of a nine-month-old baby girl at the nursery in May 2022. While her actions were not connected to the baby’s death, CCTV footage revealed Gregory’s disturbing behaviour towards the children in her care.
During Gregory’s sentencing hearing, it was disclosed that she had mistreated four vulnerable young victims, including threatening to harm them and using aggressive handling methods. The court heard how Gregory swaddled children forcefully, covered a baby’s face with a blanket, and made threatening remarks towards the infants. She was reported to have neglected, ill-treated, and exposed the children to needless suffering.
Despite pleading guilty to four counts of abuse, Gregory’s defence lawyer argued that her actions were out of character and stemmed from frustrations over staffing levels at the nursery. The judge, Tina Landale, condemned Gregory’s behaviour, highlighting her breach of trust towards the children placed in her care. As a result of her actions, Gregory has been banned from working with children or vulnerable individuals.
Following Genevieve Meehan’s tragic death and the subsequent revelations of abuse at the nursery, Tiny Toes had its operating licence suspended by Ofsted. A subsequent inspection found the nursery to be non-compliant with legal standards, leading to the relinquishment of its licence by the owners. The nursery is now under new management.
The sentencing of Rebecca Gregory underscores the seriousness of child abuse and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals. The case serves as a reminder of the duty of care owed to children in childcare settings and the repercussions for breaching that trust.