Nursery Worker Who Grabbed 16-Month-Old Toddler Like a 'Bag of Rubbish' Found Guilty of Assault

A nursery worker has been found guilty of assaulting a toddler. The worker grabbed the 16-month-old like a 'bag of rubbish' and threw him after the toddler grabbed her trousers and demanded her attention.

The nursery worker, identified as 29-year-old woman Elizabeth Adeagbo, has been found guilty of assault. Adeagbo allegedly grabbed the toddler 'like a bag of rubbish' after the child demanded attention, according to court documents.

The mother of the boy, whose identity is withheld for legal reasons, said the incident caused her to lose faith in childcare providers. "I have lost trust with leaving my child with others. Leaving your children for the first time in nursery is a significant and emotional step. No family should have to fear that their child will come to harm. It's shaken our confidence."

“They are looking after the youngest, most vulnerable children. What happened has made me so wary. It's vital that the standard of care of children is upheld so that those entrusted with their care cannot be given free rein to do what they see fit with our children, " she added.

Sefton Magistrates Court heard the incident happened at a nursery on the Wirral, which cannot be named.

The incident took place at around 9:30 a.m. on April 16, 2025, when the 'happy-go-lucky' child grabbed the trousers of the nursery worker, seeking her attention.

Adeagbo, an agency nurse employed via Teaching Personal Agency, was washing breakfast dishes at the sink. She said she picked the child up by his arms because she did not want to soak him with her wet apron.

In the CCTV footage from the nursery, shown in the court, the toddler is seen crying after being carried across the room by his left arm. Hours later, when his mother picked him up from the nursery, he was in tears, the court was told.

Prosecutor Edward Hadley said Adeagbo lifted the boy “like a bag of rubbish for the nighttime collection” as she carried him across the room, knowing it was not an appropriate way to lift a child.

Following her conviction after the trial on March 27, Adeagbo is scheduled to be sentenced at the Liverpool Magistrates’ Court in May.

Speaking after the trial, the boy's mother said she learned about the incident when she received a phone call from the nursery hours after it occurred. She took her child to A&E, and thankfully, he suffered no physical harm, the mother said.