A woman who worked at local nursery has been handed a jail sentence after verbally abusing and mishandling children.
Rebecca Gregory was arrested at home on 14 November 2023 after some evidence came to light during an ongoing investigation into a nursery worker and colleague at Tiny Toes Nursery, in the Cheadle Hulme area of Stockport.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), CCTV analysis identified Gregory committing “deplorable offences of neglect” against four young children.
Police revealed that, on Tuesday 26 April 2022, Gregory was witnessed on CCTV verbally abusing and mishandling the children, pushing a child’s head down, roughly placing a child on the floor, and even threatening to kick a child in the head.
On one occasion, she swaddled a child so tightly that he couldn’t move, and when she saw he was visibly distressed, she forced his head down to prevent him from moving, while on another occasion, she swaddled another child tightly and told him to “f***ing go home.”
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We’ve helped bring to justice a #Stockport nursery worker who neglected four children in her care
Detectives worked through hours of distressing evidence & supporting the victims’ families
From the CCTV footage, police say it was “evident” Gregory’s interactions with the children were “callous” and lacked “proper care and compassion”.
When presented with the evidence in her interview, Gregory did admit her actions against the children, but however claimed the nursery was “understaffed”.
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After admitting to the offences she committed, Gregory pleaded guilty to four counts of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting, abandoning, or exposing a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering, GMP confirmed.
Gregory appeared at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (2 September 2024), and was handed a three-year jail sentence.
Tiny Toes Day Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, where Rebecca Gregory worked / Credit: Google Maps
Detective Constable Natalie Pettit, from GMP’s Stockport district, called this a “harrowing investigation”.
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“Anyone who hears the details of this investigation cannot fail to be sickened by the careless actions of Rebecca Gregory,” DC Pettit said.
“She knew her actions fell far beyond the correct professional standards, but failed to take any reasonable steps to protect these children.
“This was a harrowing investigation which uncovered several unacceptable behaviours and practices at Tiny Toes Nursery, and it was clear to see that there was a culture of not challenging inappropriate behaviour which ultimately placed several children who were under their care at risk of serious harm.”
Featured Image – GMP
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‘Powerful’ new BBC documentary to tell the stories of the Southport victims’ families
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is set to tell the stories of the Southport attack victims’ families in a powerful new documentary airing next month.
The Southport attack was a tragedy that hit the nation like no other last summer, and the new hour-long documentary, titled Our Girls: The Southport Families, follows the parents of three young girls – nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe – who tragically lost their lives in the process.
Last summer, the three little girls had excitedly gone to a Taylor Swift-themed dance class – but tragically, they never came home.
Over the last nine months, a small team from the BBC followed the families’ journey through unimaginable grief and the beginnings of hope, and now their deeply personal interviews are to be shown alongside family footage shared for the first time.
Producers say the ‘moving’ documentary will show the joy the girls brought, and the legacies the parents are now building in their memory.
Set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early December, viewers will get to watch as the parents plan to create lasting legacies in their daughters’ names – Alice’s Wonderdance, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story.
It will also show the parents’ fundraising efforts to build a playground at the school attended by two of the girls, which they hope will become a space for ‘joy, remembrance, and community’.
“This inspirational film is a heartfelt tribute to Alice, Bebe and Elsie, told through the voices of those who knew and loved them most,” explained Richard Frediani, who is the Executive Editor at BBC Breakfast and BBC News.
“It is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the strength of three families united in grief and now driven by purpose to ensure their names are never forgotten.”
Sarah Campbell, who is a BBC News correspondent, added: “Our hope is that people will take from their story that it is possible to find light and humanity in the darkest of times.”
Our Girls: The Southport Families will air on BBC One on Tuesday 9 December at 8pm, and will later be available on iPlayer.
Featured Image – Merseyside Police
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NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter as ‘damaging’ strikes begin
Emily Sergeant
The NHS has claimed it’s currently the ‘busiest it has ever been’ as we head into the winter.
While it has been revealed that the health service’s waiting list is 230,000 lower than this time last summer, and down 15,845 compared to the previous month, figures released this week show that the NHS is ‘approaching its limit’ as we head into winter – with A&E, ambulances, and more all facing record demand.
As the colder months edge closer, and a likely spike in flu cases is expected in the coming weeks, the NHS says it’s the ‘busiest it has ever been’.
It also comes during what officials are describing as ‘damaging’ industrial action.
From Friday and into next week, some NHS services will be affected due to strike action. Please continue to come forward for NHS care.
If you need urgent medical help, use 111, and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999. pic.twitter.com/ym87CQ3CRR
Last month, both A&E attendances and ambulance incidents were at a record high for October, with A&E attendances at 37,000 higher than October 2024, equating to over 1,200 more attendances per day this October.
Ambulance incidents also jumped nearly 50,000 compared with October last year (806,441), the NHS has confirmed.
“It is fantastic news that the health service managed to get the waiting list down in September, but there’s no doubt NHS staff will be approaching their limits this winter,” commented Professor Meghana Pandit, who is the NHS National Medical Director.
The NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter amid ‘damaging’ strikes / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
“Flu is peaking early and looking like it will be long lasting, while industrial action comes on the back of the busiest October in A&E in NHS history.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and, as ever, the public can play their part.”
Despite the health service being stretched during this time, the public are still advised to attend any planned appointments that are scheduled during the ongoing strikes, unless they have been contacted to reschedule.
Primary and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them.
The public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during industrial action so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs, but patients who do need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2024 
