Banksia Grove, Perth: Daycare worker Kerri Louise Wharf is found guilty of deliberately SCRATCHING children's faces

A childcare worker has been found guilty of five charges of aggravated assault after parents grew alarmed that children she was looking after were returning home with scratches the length of their faces.  

In January, 2022 Kerri Louise Wharf, 27, pleaded not guilty to 32 allegations of assault against the children under her care in 2020 at the GoodStart Early Learning in the north eastern Perth suburb of Banksia Grove.

Her protracted trial at Perth Magistrates Court heard multiple families had complained their children, all under five, came home with severe scratches, PerthNow reported.

One parent told Nine News Perth their child still bore a scratch mark from temple to chin weeks after the incident.

The parent said they still felt shocked and sick over it but other GoodStart staff had tried to make amends.

'GoodStart staff have gone above and beyond ... they were proactive and made sure they supported my child,' the parent said.

Initially police officers suspected another child may have carried out the attacks but they then focused on Wharf.

During her drawn out trial more than 50 witnesses gave evidence, including children, and 270 exhibits were submitted as evidence.

Prosecutor Laura Campbell had told the court Wharf had 'a tendency to engage in behaviour to scratch children on the face', according to the ABC.

Ms Campbell said Wharf was 'always present or near the child' who suffered the injuries.

Wharf told police during an interview the the scratches were caused by other children or by play equipment.

This explanation was dismissed by Ms Campbell as implausible and not reasonable.

Wharf's lawyer  Kathryn Heslop, said her client was made a scapegoat during a 'flawed investigation' conducted by the childcare centre.

Ms Heslop said no one witnessed Wharf scratch any child but had been targeted as frustration grew among parents and staff and the centre's manager needed someone to blame.

Magistrate Matthew Walton Walton said the prosecution of the matter was 'at times, regrettable' and had only proven five of the 32 allegations.

He said the complexities of the trial affected the management of the case.

Wharf has been release on bail but faces sentencing in November.

Before then a report into her psychological state will be prepared and submitted to the court.