KELLY LAWRENCE PUTNEY VALE NANNY ABUSE SHOCKS LONDON COURT

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Kelly Lawrence, a 24-year-old nanny from Putney Vale, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being found guilty of abusing two 14-month-old boys under her care. The abuse was captured on hidden video surveillance cameras installed by the children's parents, revealing a pattern of violent and neglectful behavior that has left a lasting impact on the young victims.

According to court reports, Lawrence was recorded physically assaulting the toddlers on multiple occasions. She was seen biting one of the children on the cheek, leaving a mark approximately the size of a 50p coin, and slapping both children across the face. The footage also showed her dragging the boys across a room and, in one particularly severe incident, throwing one of the children onto a wooden floor and kicking him while shouting, “I’ve had enough of you.”

During her interactions with the children, Lawrence falsely claimed that the bite injury was caused by the other child, attempting to shift blame. The court heard that she was caught after the parents, concerned about her treatment of their children, decided to install two tiny video cameras within their home in Putney Vale. The footage was described as shocking and disturbing by Judge Martin Binning, who presided over the case.

Judge Binning emphasized the severity of the abuse, stating, “The video was shocking viewing. The children were docile in your care and you appeared without affection, brusque and sometimes violent.” He further condemned Lawrence’s actions, making it clear that such mistreatment of vulnerable children cannot be tolerated. The judge also disqualified her from working with children for life, underscoring the court’s stance on protecting the innocent from such cruelty.

Lawrence, who was residing in Roehampton, south-west London at the time, admitted to five charges of child cruelty. During her interview for the nanny position, she had claimed that she was “not in the habit of using physical means to control children,” which starkly contrasted with her recorded behavior.

The court proceedings included the playing of the black-and-white video footage, which elicited gasps from those present. Prosecutor Philip Wakeham detailed the violence captured on tape, describing how Child A was slapped across the face, had his head twisted to face a certain direction while being fed, and was roughly handled—being dropped from one chair onto another and dragged across the room by his arm. One of the most disturbing moments was when Lawrence slapped Child A with the back of her hand, then picked him up and appeared to bite him on the face.

In the case of Child B, Lawrence was seen slapping him multiple times, including an incident where she slapped him across the face and then dragged him by one arm. The footage revealed a pattern of aggressive and neglectful behavior that was both shocking and unacceptable.

Defending Lawrence, solicitor Annabel Darlow expressed confusion over why a woman with childcare qualifications would resort to such violence. Psychiatric reports indicated that Lawrence was suffering from an adjustment disorder at the time of the incidents, which may have contributed to her behavior.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Adrian Joly of the Hounslow and Richmond Child Protection Team commented on the case, saying, “This case has shocked and disturbed me and my colleagues who worked on it. The violence Lawrence used against the two defenceless toddlers was unforgivable, and the sentencing is the proper end to the ordeal that they undoubtedly suffered.” The case has left a lasting impression on all involved, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from harm.