A teaching assistant has been sentenced to four years in prison after spitting at a child and pinching another pupil's nose at a school in Sittingbourne, Kent.
Court sentencing
Danuska Pullia, 47, of Iwade, Kent, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, where she was sentenced for four counts of child cruelty. She had previously denied the allegations but admitted to officers during a voluntary interview in July 2023 that she spat at a child who had spat at her, and pinched another child's nose to remove a chocolate bar from their mouth.
Admissions in police interview
In a video released by Kent Police, Pullia stated: "I did spit back but I can't remember at the time why I did it or what happened." Regarding the nose pinching incident, she claimed she "didn't really pinch" the child's nose. When asked what training she had for such a tactic, she replied "none."
Investigation and trial
Kent Police began investigating Pullia after colleagues reported that she had hit, pinched, and spat at pupils between September 2021 and July 2023. She was charged in December 2023 and pleaded not guilty to all offences. Following a trial in November 2025, a jury at Maidstone Crown Court unanimously found her guilty of all charges.
Police statement
Detective Constable Hollie Kent, the investigating officer, 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. Pullia presents a danger to children and we are very pleased our investigation has stopped her from being around any for a long time."
Pullia, of White Satin Close, Iwade, was sentenced at the same court on Friday, 8 May 2026, to four years in prison.
