Child neglect

Personal injury specialists at law firm Irwin Mitchell have launched a legal claim for compensation against a Ponteland woman convicted of child neglect, after a young girl was left with damaged ligaments in her arm and extensive bruising to her face and body whilst in her care.

Emily Berry, now aged four, was in the care of Kavita Kohli, an Ofsted-registered childminder who worked from home, when she sustained the injuries just a day before her third birthday in March 2007.

Kavita Kohli has since pleaded guilty to a charge of child neglect for failing to get medical help and was sentenced to a 12-month community order in January 2008, but no assault charge was ever brought.

Emily's mother, Zoe Berry, has instructed Irwin Mitchell to pursue a civil claim. Representing the family, Emily Sunderland, solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, said: "If you left your child with an Ofsted-registered childminder you could reasonably expect them to be in safe hands.

"That was not the case for poor Emily who, apart from her physical injuries, has suffered psychological trauma. She spent four days in hospital and endured months of counselling as a result of what happened.

"The Ofsted registration was a key factor as Mrs Berry selected a childcare service and both she and her daughter were horribly let down.

"We are currently pursuing two claims – one is with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, which compensates victims of crime, the other is a civil claim against Kavita Kohli’s former business, Mother’s Pride."