A man looked out of a friend's bathroom window and was shocked to see a neighbour mistreating a disabled child in her kitchen, a court heard.

He watched as the middle-aged foster carer slapped the eight-year-old boy around the face and roughly pulled his head down as he ate his dinner.

The man called two others at the house in Edenbridge to also watch from the window in case he was mistaken and they too witnessed the cruelty.

"The first couple of blows were so disturbing, I had to question what I was looking at," he told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court. "After that, there was no doubt in my mind."

Prosecutor Helen McCormack said the boy, who cannot be identified, suffered from various medical problems including epileptic seizures.

The 56-year-old woman became his foster carer because his parents were unable to look after him.

"This is a truly shocking and distressing case" - NSPCC spokesman

"To all outward appearances she looked after him perfectly well," said Miss McCormack. "But there was an incident in January 2014 which caused grave concern."

The man who witnessed the cruelty was staying with friends. He looked out of the open bathroom window across a garden and could see the boy sitting at a small table.

"He was wearing a padded helmet and it was clear he had special needs," said Miss McCormack. "He saw the woman go towards the child and slap him on both sides of the face with her palm and the back of her hand.

"She walked away, returned and slapped him again on both sides of the face. He saw her take hold of the helmet and pull his head back and force her fingers into his mouth, apparently forcing food into his mouth.

"He saw this sequence several times. She also grabbed the child's face and pulled it down to the level of the table. She then pulled his head back and forced food into his mouth.

"He was shocked by what he saw."

The woman denied cruelty to a child, but was convicted.

Recorder David Jeremy QC adjourned sentence for reports until October 13. Bail was continued.

After the hearing, an NSPCC spokesman said: "This is a truly shocking and distressing case.

"The foster carer's role was to look after and care for the young boy as if he were her own. Instead she took advantage of her position of trust and the child's vulnerability by physically abusing him.

"The witnesses must be praised for their actions. By coming forward and reporting the abuse they have not only helped get justice for the young victim but will have also contributed to making children safer.

"Adults who are concerned about a child’s welfare can call the NSPCC helpline 24-hours a day, seven days a week on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk."