A childcare worker has been found guilty of five charges of aggravated assault relating to scratches found on the faces of young children in her care.
Kerri Louise Wharf, 27, appeared at Perth Magistrates Court on Friday to hear the outcome of a protracted trial into 32 allegations of assault against children she was caring for at a Banksia Grove daycare centre.
Kerri Louise Wharf became the focus of the squad’s probe and has been accused of harming youngsters she was paid to look after.Credit: Nine News Perth
The Child Abuse Squad was called to GoodStart Early Learning in 2020 after multiple families complained their children, all under five, came home with severe scratches.
One parent told 9 News Perth their child still bore a scratch mark from temple to chin weeks after the incident, and she still felt shocked and sick over it.
“GoodStart staff have gone above and beyond … they were proactive and made sure they supported my child,” the parent said.
Initially officers thought another child may have carried out the attacks but soon Wharf became the focus of the probe and was charged.
She pleaded not guilty to the allegations and the matter went to trial in January 2022, but a series of events meant it was interrupted twice before being completed a year later.
More than 50 witnesses gave evidence, including children, and 270 exhibits were submitted as evidence in a case criticised by Magistrate Walton when he handed down his findings.
He said the conduct of the prosecution in the matter was “at times, regrettable” and said the complexities of the trial affected the management of the case.
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