Mathewson was arrested and charged a short time later. When police arrived at the home, she had 15 children aged under 12 in her care, as well as 10 children under primary school age and two children under the age of one.
During the subsequent investigation, various children told their parents that being left alone in Mathewson’s home was commonplace.
Parents also raised concerns that their children had not eaten or had anything to drink during her care.
Some also reported their children returning home in dirty nappies.
A court hearing was later told how Mathewson would play loud music and prevented parents from coming into her home in an attempt to hide her offending.
Another parent told Scotland News his daughter was “rummaging in a food waste bin” at nursery after spending mornings at Mathewson’s home.
For months after her arrest, he said his daughter would become “distraught” whenever they drove past her house.
He said it became “really difficult” for the family to travel from one side of the town to the other without her becoming distressed.
“I can’t imagine what must be going through her mind, the fear of going back there,” he said.
“That was heartbreaking and we didn’t know what to do or how to help.”
He described Mathewson’s system of avoiding parents bumping into each other at the same time as being like a “military operation”.
“We were let down. We were lied to. Our children were neglected,” he said.
“The only question I have is; Why?”
