A teaching assistant has been jailed after being found guilty of committing child cruelty at a Sittingbourne school.
A Kent Police investigation was launched after colleagues saw Danuska Pullia, 47, hitting, pinching and spitting at pupils between September 2021 and July 2023.
During a voluntary interview that July, Pullia denied most of the allegations or claimed they didn’t take place as reported. She did, however, admit to having spat at a child and pinching the nose of another as she attempted to remove plastic from their mouth.
Being charged with four counts of child cruelty in December 2023, she pleaded not guilty to all the offences.
In November 2025, a Maidstone Crown Court jury unanimously found her guilty of all charges. Pullia, of White Satin Close, Iwade, was sentenced at the same court on Friday 8th May 2026 to four years in jail.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Hollie Kent said ‘Pullia was entrusted with the care of vulnerable children and utterly failed in that responsibility. Her actions have had a lasting impact on her victims, many of whom weren’t able to speak out for themselves as to what happened. We are very grateful to the families and guardians of the children affected for their support throughout our enquiries.’
KentNews
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