Nanny jailed for assault on baby

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A nanny who injured a 10-week-old boy has been jailed for three years.

Jasmin Schmidt, 34, of Primrose Hill, north London, injured the baby while she looked after him in September 2002.

The Old Bailey heard Schmidt was caring for him while his parents from North Yorkshire, who owned a designer shop, attended London Fashion Week.

The German national, who has worked as a nanny for several celebrities, was found guilty in August of two charges of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Suspicion fell on devoted, loving parents and grandmother Judge Jeremy Gold QC

She had denied the charges.

The boy was found pale and limp by his mother one morning in 2002 and was found to have a broken arm and a brain injury.

The court heard the family later came under suspicion as Schmidt lied and shifted the blame to them.

The judge told Schmidt her continual denials had not helped doctors treating the brain injury, and had pointed the finger of blame on the boy's parents.

'Full recovery'

He said: "Suspicion fell on devoted, loving parents and grandmother. The strain on that family must have been enormous.

"It had the effect of pointing the finger of blame on them."

Recorder Jeremy Gold QC banned Schmidt from working with children again and told her she was "unworthy" to belong to the nursing profession.

The boy, who is now six years old, has since made a full recovery.

In January, this year, Schmidt faced trial for assaulting a singer's baby and the baby of a classical musician while she cared for them at night.

She was cleared of the offences and denied assaulting any babies.

The court was told she had since taken a degree in business studies and had not worked as a nanny for the past two years.