A night nurse from Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to 30 days in jail after she was caught abusing a 5-week-old premature baby in a Westchester County home in 2023. Gwendolyn Blake, 40, was seen on camera slapping and shaking the newborn. According to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Blake was caring for the child on August 30, 2023, when she struck the infant when he cried.
The next day, she repeatedly slapped the baby’s face, grabbed his head, and shook him, per the New York Post.
More from LittleThings: Mom Notices Kid's Odd Behavior Around Babysitter So She Sets Up Nanny Cam To Find Out Why
"This is a preemie who is colicky because of his low birth weight and instead of being treated with love and compassion, he was abused for being in pain," the family of the infant said in a victim impact statement. "This has been a nightmare for our sons, our family, and our community. We will never be able to trust anyone with our children and are overly skeptical of anyone they interact with."
Though prosecutors were fighting for Blake to get 60 days of jail time, Mamaroneck Judge Ronald Meister only sentenced her to 30 days after she pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges, according to the the district attorney’s office. She was also given three years of probation, which means she is not allowed to care for the elderly, young kids, or other vulnerable beings.
More from LittleThings: Parents Demand Answers After Seeing Footage Of 3-Year-Old Knocked Down By School Employee
The victim's family was granted a permanent protection order against Blake so that she is not allowed around them. "Gwen Blake knew what she was doing behind closed doors, lied to our faces, and went about her business every single day seemingly without a care in the world," the family said. "She is violent and poses a significant risk to innocent families."
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
