Childminder pleads guilty to neglecting 27 children in her care

Amanda Mathewson, 55, has pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting and abandoning children in her care at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court. Mathewson was found to have left 27 children unsupervised in her home, exceeding her licensed capacity by 19 children. The court heard that she was arrested following allegations of cruelty after parents received a tip-off regarding her school runs. A couple who had entrusted their child to Mathewson discovered multiple children abandoned in her home, left screaming. At the time of her arrest, Mathewson had 15 children aged under 12, including ten children under primary school age and two infants under one year old. Mathewson has been a self-employed childminder for 30 years, providing care for children under 16 in Dunfermline. During the investigation, children reported that being left alone at Mathewson's home was common. Parents expressed concerns that their children had not eaten while in her care and returned home thirsty, with some in dirty nappies. Mathewson was seen in public with fewer children than she was responsible for on several occasions. A Care Inspectorate report from August 2023 indicated that she was registered to care for a maximum of eight children, with specific conditions regarding their ages. The report rated her care environment as 'very good' prior to her arrest. A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate stated that changes have been implemented as a result of this case. Detective Inspector Stephanie Drummond noted that the investigation involved multiple offences under the Children and Young Persons Act and emphasized a commitment to supporting victims and protecting children.