Childcare worker jailed after drugging kids to 'go tanning'

A US childcare worker will spend 21 years behind bars after drugging kids in her care so she could go to the gym and tan.

January Neatherlin, 32, was sentenced on Friday (local time) after admitting she left seven infants alone at her illegal day-care centre, Little Giggles, in Oregon last year.

Neatherlin forced the children to take melatonin supplements to sleep before she headed to a CrossFit class or the tanning salon, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to 11 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and one count of third degree assault last year.

During the trial, the court reportedly heard multiple accounts of Neatherlin mistreating children in her care.

One example given was an 11-month-old girl who was taken to hospital after suffering bleeding and swelling on her head; injuries which were consistent with being repeatedly struck or shaken.

Neatherlin denied she had ever assaulted a child, stating she “loved all my day-care kids as my own...they loved me and enjoying hanging out with me.”

None of the children in her care sustained any permanent damage from being given melatonin, according to the Tribune.

Neatherlin will spend at least 21 years and four months in prison.