The trial against a woman accused of assaulting babies and toddlers at what was once one of the north-east’s top private schools has been postponed.
Hannah Jamieson was due to go on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday facing a string of allegations that she mistreated youngsters when she worked at the city’s Hamilton School.
But the case against her was adjourned for more than a month to allow the court to find two consecutive days to allow the trial to run uninterrupted.
Hamilton School in Queen’s Road was closed by the Scottish Government last year following a probe by watchdogs and police.
An adjoining nursery was shut down just 24 hours later after the Care Inspectorate visited the premises.
Owner and principal Kathlyn Taylor and Jamieson – her 26-year-old employee – were charged.
However, the Crown Office later revealed it was no longer seeking to prosecute Mrs Taylor.
Jamieson, of 76 Airyhall Avenue, Aberdeen, is facing accusations she dragged a child across the ground, held blankets over babies’ faces and forced a baby into a high chair.
She is also accused of assaulting a nine-month-old boy by pushing him on the head to get him to lie down to sleep, and picking up a 16-month-old girl in an “aggressive or forceful manner”.
It is also alleged that Jamieson pulled an 11-month-old boy by the leg, causing him to fall and bang his head, and that she assaulted a 15-month-old boy by pushing him.
In addition, she is accused of behaving in a “threatening or abusive” manner by shouting and acting aggressively towards children in her care.
The offences are alleged to have happened during a nine-month period at the school between March and December 2013.
Jamieson denies the allegations and will go on trial on November 9.