A foster carer allegedly forced a child to eat their own vomit before threatening that social workers would take them away.
Rachel Lessels, 72, allegedly mistreated the child, who she was responsible for, over a two-month period in 2009.
The pensioner’s trial at Dundee Sheriff Court previously heard allegations Lessels force-fed vomit to a young boy and shoved a soiled nappy in his face.
Lessels cared for dozens of children between the mid 2000’s and 2017 at her home in Letham, Fife, the court was told.
‘I was scared’
A second witness, now 18 and unrelated to the first witness, alleged Lessels dug her nails into the skin and ears of their sibling.
“I remember one time being made to eat my own sick,” the witness told the court.
“That was in the kitchen.
“I was eating a bowl of porridge; I threw it back up into the bowl.
“I don’t know why I threw it up but Rachel told me I had to eat it.
“I was crying and then Rachel took out this leaflet saying that the social work would take me away if I didn’t eat it.”
The witness responded: “I was scared,” after being asked by prosecutor Marie Lyons why they continued eating after vomiting.
They added: “I remember one time she dug her nails into my brother’s skin and ear.
“She had really long, pointy nails and dug them into his arms and his ear.”
Jurors heard claims the witness had her head held underwater in a bath by Lessels – an act the witness described as “absolutely terrifying”.
The allegations came to light after the witness spoke with a psychologist at school.
Social work reports emerge
The court previously heard from a man, now aged 22, who alleged he was also fed his own vomit as well as having a soiled nappy pushed into his face by Lessels.
He claimed Lessels made him run to her car naked as well as slamming his head into a cupboard and violently grabbing his privates in separate incidents.
During the second day of evidence, a social worker for Fife Council said she was concerned about bruising on the first witness apparently caused by him striking his head on the cupboard.
Another social worker recalled the second witness being highly distressed and lashing out at the prospect of leaving her mum’s home from a day visit and returning to Lessels’ care.
Defence counsel Mark Moir QC, however, highlighted excerpts from social work reports which noted the children were happy and making good progress with Lessels.
Lessels denies the allegations and the trial before Sheriff Paul Brown continues.
