Neglect case childminder was 'master manipulator', say parents
A childminder named Amanda Mathewson has pleaded guilty to neglect charges after it was revealed she left 27 children unsupervised in her home. Parents described her as a 'master manipulator' who maintained a trustworthy public image while failing to provide adequate care.
Why it matters
The case highlights issues regarding child safety regulations and the psychological impact of betrayal by trusted community caregivers.
Figure caption, Amanda Mathewson leaves Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court
Parents whose children were cared for by a childminder who has admitted neglect charges have described her as a "master manipulator".
Amanda Mathewson had been looking after many more children than she was allowed to - and at one stage left 27 youngsters alone and unsupervised at her home in Dunfermline.
Families told BBC Scotland that the 55-year-old had been "loved and trusted" in the community before her crimes came to light.
And they said it had been "incredibly traumatic" to learn that their children had not been getting cared for properly.
Mathewson pleaded guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday to wilfully neglecting, abandoning and exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to their health. She will be sentenced next month.
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