GRANDMOTHER Marjorie Watkins, who claims she was physically abused at the Catholic children's home where Sister Alphonso worked, has spoken of her anger after the nun escaped a prison sentence.

Mrs Watkins said Sister Alphonso, also known as Marie Docherty, should have been locked up for bashing children at homes run by the Catholic Order of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth.

She was instead given an admonishment at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after being found guilty of four charges of child cruelty.

The sentence means the 58-year-old nun will only acquire a criminal record and receive no punishment.

Mrs Watkins, of Seymour Park Road, Marlow said: 'I feel if she had been a lay person, she would have probably got a custodial sentence.

'Our society is built up on social equality and this is not social equality. You can't expect people to have respect for the law if it lets you down.

'I feel really sorry for her victims because they have not gained anything by this.'

Sherrif Colin Harris admonished the nun after saying a prison sentence was not appropriate.

The mother-of-seven and grandmother-of-four added: 'She has not been given a sentence that fits the crime. She will live out her life in comfort and the church will protect her which is more than can be said for her victims who have suffered.

'Her victims have been cheated out of justice.'

Divorced Mrs Watkins was in the care of nuns at the Sisters of Nazareth children's homes in Kilmarnock and Aberdeen between 1950 and 1964.