Doctor tells court of burns and bruises on child's body

A DOCTOR has told a court she had "grave concerns" over severe burns and bruises she found on a toddler's body.

Dr Sarah Hill, a paediatrician at Yorkhill Hospital, was giving evidence at the trial of Charlene McGregor, who is accused of burning the two-year-old girl with cigarettes and hot safety pins.

McGregor, 30, is also accused of giving the child diazepam, locking her in a room and hitting her on the body while she was looking after her.

Dr Hill told Glasgow Sheriff Court the youngster had "an awful lot of bruises and severe burns" when she was admitted to hospital. She said the child stayed in hospital for two weeks to be treated for the injuries and received antibiotics for one of the burns, which had became infected.

McGregor, of Skipness Drive, Linthouse, Glasgow, denies giving the girl drugs and burning her to her severe injury in November 2007. She also pleads not guilty to striking her on the body and throwing her on to a couch and neglecting her while she was babysitting on various dates between 1 October and 12 November, 2007.

Prosecutor Deborah Demick asked if the larger bruise could have been caused by accident.

Dr Hill replied: "It's possible, but in my experience, for a bruise such as that … the child maybe fell several feet, or had been hit by a car.

"You don't see bruises of that size often in young children, and when you do there's usually some kind of history to go with it."

Ms Demick asked: "And did you get that?"

Dr Hill replied: "I was told that she had fallen over in a friend's garden."

Ms Demick: "And could that have caused this injury?"

Dr Hill: "I would say not."

McGregor claims that her friend Steven Ellis carried out the assaults while he was left alone with the girl.

The trial, before Sheriff Robert Anthony, continues.