Fury as young mum posts Facebook photo of boy with Down’s Syndrome inside washing machine
A young mum has sparked outrage after she took a photo of a toddler with Down’s syndrome she was caring for inside a washing machine.
Courtney Stewart was questioned by police after she uploaded the image to her Facebook account.
Despite coming up fire from neighbours and social media users online, the 21-year-old refused to apologise for the image, saying that the boy she was caring for “loves the washing machine”.
“We took a picture and it was a laugh,” the Scottish woman told the Daily Record newspaper.
“He is clearly laughing so I don’t understand why somebody took offence… What did they think I was doing to him?
“Taking him for a spin?”
Ms Stewart said the young child had “a bit of a washing obsession” so she was happy to let him play in the washing machine.
“Anyone who knows him would know he’s got a washing obsession.
“I don’t know who reported it. I don’t really know why they would do that. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.
“They shouldn’t be able to call the police anonymously.
“The police know who it was and I don’t think it’s at all fair that they can’t tell me.”
A member of the public who contacted the Daily Record about the picture said: “It was terrible to look at.
“For anyone, let alone someone who is also a parent, to take a picture like that and stick it on Facebook for a laugh is unbelievable."
Ms Stewart, who lives in Erskine, Renfrewshire, claimed she had been physically attacked by a complete stranger over the picture.
She said: “I got assaulted by a woman. She came to my door and said I was a f****** nutter and she wouldn’t let me anywhere near her kids.
“It happened right on my doorstep. I got assaulted in my own home.”
It is understood that a 42-year-old woman was arrested over the alleged assault.