CHRISTINE BUTTON SHOCKING CHILD CRUELTY AT DORDON NURSERY NEAR TAMWORTH

In December 2016, a disturbing case of child cruelty emerged involving Christine Button, the former nursery manager of a facility called On The Button, located in Dordon near Tamworth. The court heard harrowing details of her treatment of vulnerable young children, some as young as one year old, revealing a pattern of sadistic behavior that shocked the community and drew widespread condemnation.

Judge Andrew Lockhart QC described Button’s actions as behavior that “went out in the Dark Ages,” emphasizing the severity and inappropriateness of her conduct. The 56-year-old woman was found guilty of multiple charges related to the mistreatment of children under her care, which included physical and emotional abuse. The court was told that her nursery operated under a climate of fear, where children were subjected to harsh and unjust treatment.

One of the most distressing cases involved a boy approximately four years old, who was repeatedly dragged around the nursery, hit up to five times for crying, and made to sit alone on the floor for more than two hours. Such treatment was described as cruel and unnecessary, with the boy’s distress clearly evident. Another child, a four-year-old girl, was forced to sit at a table for two hours simply because she refused to eat an apple. The court also heard that a three-year-old girl was made to remain in her wet clothes for up to 45 minutes after having accidents during potty training, further illustrating the neglect and harsh discipline practiced at the nursery.

Adding to the disturbing account, a one-year-old girl was made to sit on the floor in Button’s office for over an hour and a half, a situation that raised serious concerns about the welfare of the youngest children in her care. These incidents only came to light after two apprentices working at the nursery, who observed the troubling behavior, decided to report their concerns to their college tutor. Their intervention eventually led to the involvement of Ofsted and the police.

Initially, Button denied any mistreatment of the children, but she later admitted her actions just days before her trial was scheduled to commence. She pleaded guilty to four charges of child cruelty and was sentenced to a 12-month suspended prison term. The judge made it clear that her conduct was not only inappropriate but also deeply sadistic, far removed from any form of proper childcare. He condemned her behavior as “more than one incident,” characterizing it as sadistic conduct that belonged to a bygone era.

Judge Lockhart also advised her against working with children in the future and indicated that the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) might consider imposing a formal ban on her working with vulnerable minors. In addition to the suspended sentence, Button was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service, adhere to a four-month overnight curfew, and pay costs amounting to £600. Her previous residence was listed as Everglade Road, Wood End, near Tamworth.

Prosecutor Simon Hunka explained that the concerns raised by the apprentices stemmed from their observations in 2014, which conflicted sharply with the training they received. Their decision to report the abuse was described as courageous, leading to investigations by Ofsted and the police. The court heard that Button fostered an intimidating environment at the nursery, where any challenge to her authority was met with repercussions. She reportedly believed that her harsh methods would produce long-term behavioral improvements in the children, claiming to be trained in psychological manipulation to “build them up to be better-behaved in the future.”

However, the court found her conduct to be “simply cruel,” and the impact on the children was evident. The mother of the four-year-old boy recounted that her son would hide in the back of the car, trembling and expressing a desire not to go into the nursery. Similarly, the mother of the four-year-old girl was alarmed when her daughter said, “Go to my office. You’re not having any lunch,” indicating the emotional trauma inflicted.

During the hearing, defense counsel Paul Fleming highlighted the serious financial consequences faced by Button and her family, including penalties for ending her lease early, losing their home, and relocating to Devon. The case underscored the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the devastating effects of abuse by those entrusted with their care.