Friday, 24 July 2015

Washing machine mum caught on camera throwing Down's syndrome toddler around bouncy castle


Daily RecordCourtney Stewart throwing and dragging her Down's Syndrome child
Lifted: The toddler is hoisted above the surface

These shocking images show toddler-in-the-washing-machine mum Courtney Stewart throwing and dragging the same boy about on a bouncy castle.
Shot by a concerned mum, the sickening footage captures Stewart throwing the boy of two-and-a-half, who has Down’s Syndrome, from shoulder height on to the surface.
As he lands, his arms and legs spring out, his neck is jolted, and he bounces back almost a foot into the air... before trying to crawl away.

On Wednesday we revealed how Stewart, 21, of Erskine, Renfrewshire pictured the boy, who was in her care, through the glass door of a washing machine while an adult hand held it shut, before posting it on her Facebook page.
Stewart, who has a daughter aged seven months, told us she had done it “for a laugh”.
Many readers reacted with anger and disgust when they commented online about Stewart’s treatment of the youngster.
Daily RecordCourtney Stewart throwing and dragging her Down's Syndrome child
Madness: Stewart dashes boy downwards
But the mobile phone footage from a children’s amusement venue is arguably more horrifying and upsetting.
The person who passed the video to us said: “It was horrendous to watch. Courtney was having fun but the wee man looked under strain.
Daily RecordCourtney Stewart throwing and dragging her Down's Syndrome child
Upsetting: His neck jolts back as he lands
“She throws him from above her shoulder and he lands with a terrible jolt.
“He then crawls away before she grabs him by his ankle.
“It was unbelievable to watch him be dragged by the ankle like that.
“When she throws him down you can tell that the person filming it has had a shock at the force of the landing, because the images jolts a bit.
“Courtney went on to the bouncy castle when it was full of children.
“Just before the start of filming she went on and she was having a great time.
“But she was far too boisterous and other kids came off because of that. Other parents took them off.”
Daily RecordCourtney Stewart throwing and dragging her Down's Syndrome child
Cruel: Tot is dragged back after being hurled around
The images were shot on May 28 and passed to our sister paper, the Daily Record, in the aftermath of our washing machine story.
Daily RecordCourtney Stewart throwing and dragging her Down's Syndrome child
Agony: The boy tries to crawl away
The source added: “It might be a bouncy castle, but it is meant to be for children to jump up and down on.
“It is not supposed to be for an adult to lift kids to shoulder height and throw then down like that. The force of the landing is sickening. It is hard to watch.
“This wee boy could have suffered an injury because of the force he lands with and the way his neck moves.
“Something has to be done about this.”
When we confronted Stewart over the washing machine incident she told us it is a disgrace that someone had reported her to police and claimed the youngster “loved” washing machines.
Courtney Stewart
Disgraceful behaviour: Courtney Stewart
After she posted the image on Facebook, people sent her abusive comments and she was grilled by the police for more than an hour at her home.
She was also allegedly attacked by a woman on her doorstep.
The bouncy castle footage was shot at Pandamonium play centre in Erskine on May 28.
The Record’s source said: “It happened so quickly.
“There is no criticism of the staff here. They are diligent and well- trained.
“I thought about flagging it up but I decided against it at the time.
Courtney Stewart posted a picture of a Down's syndrome toddler inside a washing machine on her Facebook page
Outrageous: Stewart trapped the boy in a washing machine
“That changed when I saw the washing machine story in the Record.”
When the Record approached Stewart to show her the footage she said: “So what?
“It’s me playing. It is me playing with the boy at Pandamonium.
“It’s just us playing at Pandamonium. What are you trying to do to me?”
Staff at Pandamonium were shocked when we showed them the bouncy castle footage.
John Hay, co-owner of Pandamonium said: “Our staff are trained to be very vigilant and diligent.
“I am disappointed though that this happened and we were not made aware of it at the time.”

Culled from Irish Mirror

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