Teaching assistant jailed for child cruelty
A teaching assistant has been jailed for four years after spitting at a child and pinching another pupil's nose at a school.
Kent Police said it launched an investigation after colleagues saw Danuska Pullia, 47, hitting, pinching and spitting at pupils at the school in Sittingbourne between September 2021 and July 2023.
Pullia, of Iwade, pleaded not guilty to four counts of child cruelty, but was convicted of all charges following a trial in November.
She was handed the prison term at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday.
Pullia denied most of the allegations or claimed they did not take place as reported in a voluntary interview in July, 2023.
She did admit to having spat at a child and pinching the nose of another as she attempted to remove food from their mouth.
Pullia said: "She spat at me the first time, I didn't react. She spat at me a second time, I didn't react. I don't know why I did it the third time, I can't remember."
Det Con Hollie Kent, of Kent Police, said: "Pullia presents a danger to children and we are very pleased our investigation has stopped her from being around any for a long time.
"Pullia was entrusted with the care of vulnerable children and utterly failed in that responsibility.
"Her actions have had a lasting impact on her victims, many of whom weren't able to speak out for themselves as to what happened."
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