Polmont’s Cherry Tree nursery nurse cleared of mistreating children

A NURSERY nurse has been cleared of a number of serious offences against babies and toddlers. Linzi Neely (28) was an employee at the Cherry Tree Nursery in Polmont at the time when the incidents were alleged to have occurred on February 3.

She appeared before the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) last week, accused of dropping a nine-month-old child in a bouncy chair on to the floor, using excessive force to pull a 17-month-old child by his legs on to a sleeping mat and throwing a toy in anger.

She was also said to have inappropriately restrained an 18-month-old for several minutes by holding the child’s arms and legs while it was on her knee.

Ms Neely told the council she was “shocked” by the allegations.

She said: “I would never lose my temper and take it out on children.”

Referring to those making the allegations, she added: “I could not believe that anything was said. I would never jeopardise a child’s safety.

“The only thing that might have upset them was that I got a place on teacher’s training.

“After that, things were different for me.”