Jessica Helen Lee, 24, from Marsden assaults child at Logan childcare centre

A Brisbane childcare worker who grabbed a toddler’s head, wiped his face in spit and yelled abuse at him as punishment bragged about it to her colleagues.

Jessica Helen Lee, 24, leaving Beenleigh Magistrates Court

A childcare worker who rubbed a young child’s face through spit as a punishment and bragged about it to co-workers has had her Bluecard cancelled and been sentenced by a magistrate who scolded her for the “despicable act”.

Jessica Helen Lee was working at a Logan childcare centre on October 6, 2023 when a two-year-old boy stood up on his bed and spat on a bookshelf.

Beenleigh Magistrates Court heard on March 25 that Lee then grabbed the child’s head, shoved it in the spit, wiped his face in the saliva and yelled abuse at him.

“If you’re going to act like a dog I’ll treat you like one”, she said to the boy.

The court heard Lee was later bragging to the other staff at the centre about how she disciplined the child.

Magistrate Shane Elliott scolded the 24-year-old Marsden woman for her behaviour and said parents in the community would not accept this.

“This was disgusting and despicable,” he said.

“It affects the public’s confidence in the childcare system.

“Parents already worry about their kids’ safety such as (the) possibly being bitten by another kid for example, but should not have to worry about an educator assaulting a defenceless two year old.

“It is a very serious case of common assault and so serious a conviction ought to be recorded.”

Lee pleaded guilty to one count of common assault and had her blue card revoked as a result of the allegation.

The court heard she had no criminal history but was struggling with mental health concerns at the time and a stressful, toxic environment at the childcare centre.

Defence lawyer Zane Chapman said Lee was getting yelled at by her manager prior to the incident and she was immensely regretful for her actions.

“It was a brain snap and out of character,” he said.

“She can’t work in childcare for two years already as her blue card got cancelled, so she already has that as a punishment.”

Lee was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, to be completed within one year and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Jessica Helen Lee, 24, from Marsden assaults child at Logan childcare centre