A bullying care worker has been struck off after dishing out cruel treatment to a child at a Scots nursery.
Nicola McGregor tried to ram a fork into the youngster's mouth, she also snatched his toys, yanked him by the arm and pulled him away from the other children during story time.
And when the distressed nursery tot cried, her nasty reply was "aww diddums".
A report to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) this week explains that McGregor worked at Jack and Jill's Elite Nursery in Forfar as an an early years practitioner.
It explained that during lunchtime she attempted to force a fork into the mouth of the unnamed youngster when he wouldn't eat a meal, she snatched toys away and while changing him said "your nose is disgusting".
On another occasion she swiped at the same youngster with a phone, pretending to strike a blow.
The council ordered McGregor to be removed from its register, explaining she failed to uphold the standards expected of someone working in the childcare sector.
The report says: "Abusive behaviour by a social services worker is a misuse of power and position and breaches the trust and confidence placed in workers from users of social services.
"This conduct, directed at a young child, breaches the standards expected of someone working within the sector.
"Workers in a nursery setting are expected to have the right skills, knowledge, attitudes and values so that they can respond appropriately to any challenging situation. Your actions risked causing distress and actual physical harm."
Telling McGregor her actions in April last year breached the fundamental values of the profession, the report goes on: "Your actions amount to a pattern of inappropriate and abusive behaviour against a child on a single day.
"Your actions are indicative of a character issue and violate the fundamental values of the profession to care for and protect, insofar as possible, service users from risk of harm."
An investigation was launched after complaints about McGregor's behaviour and she no longer works for nursery, which now has new owners.
A spokesman explained the incident was dealt with quickly by the previous owner and a high standard of care and professionalism is expected from all staff.
