Childminder guilty of neglect after abandoning 27 children alone in her home

Her offending took place at several locations in Dunfermline and elsewhere in Fife.

Matthewson had been self-employed as a childminder for 30 years, but his parents began to be concerned that their children were not being fed, as they returned home with clothes in "pristine condition" and unchanged diapers.

She was arrested after allegations of cruelty towards children and was later found to have 27 children in her home, 19 more than she was licensed to look after.

Of the children she was caring for, 15 were under 12, 10 were under primary school age, and two were under one.

Procurator fiscal Vicki Bell told the court two parents became suspicious of Matthewson after being informed their children were not present while the childminder carried out a school run.

The parents secretly headed to the school and found their children not with Matthewson and headed to her home, where they heard a "child screaming" and found five unattended youngsters in the garden.

Amanda Mathewson, 55, admitted to neglect and abandoning children in her care at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court

KIRKCALDY SHERIFF COURT

One child told the parents there were no adults inside and added that Matthewson told them to wait in the garden.

The witnesses then entered the house and heard a child "screaming hysterically", finding the child crying under the kitchen table.

Nine more children, all under the age of five, were found in an upstairs bedroom, with two strapped into prams.

They were said to be "distressed" but uninjured, and after police attended, Matthewson said the children were left alone for at least half an hour.

During the course of the police investigation, multiple children told their parents that being left alone was "commonplace"

The investigation also found discrepancies between the number of children in Matthewson's care and the number she was seen with, including when she attended a church Christmas party with just three children, despite being responsible for nine that day.

She was also seen with fewer children than the number placed in her care during a sports day and a visit to Dunfermline fire station.

When asked about the number of children in her care, Matthewson claimed she was assisted by a "child-minding friend".

Matthewson admitted wilfully neglecting, abandoning and exposing children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to their health.

A Care Inspectorate report, published in August 2023, rated her care as "very good", the second-highest level in the quality scale, adding that "children were cared for in a comfortable, welcoming and homely environment" and "were cared for with warmth, kindness and a nurturing approach".

A Care Inspectorate spokesman described the case as "distressing" and said it had implemented changes as a result.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We remain wholly committed to supporting victims of crime and protecting children from harm and will use all available resources during our investigation.

"We urge anyone with concerns about a child protection matter to speak to the police in the knowledge that you will be fully supported and listened to."

In a statement given to the BBC, one of the parents said: "The criminal case is important for justice. But our ultimate goal is to ensure no other family has to endure what we have been through. Our trust was broken, but our resolve is not.

"We have turned our pain into a purpose: to rebuild the system of childcare regulation and family support so that it is truly fit to protect Scotland's children."