SARAH PITT'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AT BROMYARD AND LINTON NURSERIES: SHOCKING CRUELTY IN WHITBOURNE

In October 2018, a disturbing case of child cruelty emerged from the small communities of Bromyard and Linton, centered around Sarah Pitt, a nursery worker employed at Tiblands Nursery School in Whitbourne. The case revealed a series of appalling acts of physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon vulnerable young children, some as young as under three years old.

Sarah Pitt, aged 40 and residing in Linton, was found guilty of four counts of child cruelty, each involving a different child at the nursery. Despite her admission of guilt, she was spared immediate imprisonment by Worcester Crown Court, a decision that has sparked outrage among parents, victims' families, and child safeguarding advocates. They argue that the severity of her actions warrants a harsher punishment and that the nursery itself should be shut down to prevent further harm.

The abuse came to light after a whistleblower raised concerns about Pitt’s behavior, describing her as ‘bossy’ and ‘abrupt’. This individual reported her to Ofsted and other safeguarding authorities, which led to an investigation. The court heard that the allegations involved both physical and emotional mistreatment of children, most of whom were under the age of three.

Rather than facing immediate dismissal, Pitt was allowed to continue working at the nursery, a decision that has been widely criticized as ‘mystifying’ by the presiding judge, who described her as ‘an appalling bully’. Despite receiving additional training, her abusive conduct persisted, prompting a second whistleblower to come forward with further allegations.

Prosecutor Sharon Bahia detailed some of Pitt’s most egregious acts during the trial. These included forcibly feeding a young girl yoghurt until she vomited, and mimicking a boy with special needs in a manner deemed humiliating. She also left a child to lie in his own urine for three to four hours as a form of ‘lesson’, only changing him when his parents arrived to pick him up. Another child was left crying for over an hour and a quarter, and Pitt reportedly pushed a girl so forcefully that her head struck the back of her pushchair.

The court was told that Pitt’s misconduct extended over a period of more than three years, with her arrest occurring on January 19, 2017. Judge Jim Tindal condemned her actions, stating, “She will never work with children again.” The judge expressed uncertainty about whether Pitt’s lack of remorse stemmed from ‘stupidity or arrogance’ and criticized her for her mental state, which he linked to personal issues including the loss of her father.

Judge Tindal questioned why Pitt had been allowed to continue her employment despite her treatment of children being ‘abominable’. He described her conduct as ‘cruel and unacceptable’ and sentenced her to two years in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, Pitt was ordered to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities and contribute £250 towards court costs. The judge’s decision to suspend the sentence was influenced by concerns over the impact an immediate custodial sentence would have on her son.

Furthermore, Pitt is now prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16 without parental consent, and only with the knowledge of the child's parents regarding her conviction. The case has left many in the community of Bromyard and Linton appalled, calling for stricter safeguards and accountability in early childhood care settings.