MARLBORO, Mass. (AP) – A former special needs teacher at a Hudson elementary school was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to assaulting a 5-year-old autistic boy by sitting on him and force-feeding him peaches, which made him vomit. Laurie Brennan, 35, pleaded guilty to assault and battery Friday at Marlboro District Court. Judge Thomas Sullivan sentenced Brennan to six months in jail, then suspended the sentence and placed Brennan on two years supervised probation.

Brennan must also serve 300 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to the parents of Grey MacLean, Debi and Michael MacLean, the MetroWest Daily News of Framingham reported.

Debi MacLean said Brennan got the sentence she deserved for abusing her son.

“I knew he would be beaten, teased and bullied, but I didn’t know it would be someone in Laurie Brennan’s position,” she said.

Brennan, who lives in Attleboro, did not immediately return a message Saturday for comment.

The charges stem from a March 6, 2002 incident at the Mulready School when other teachers said they saw the 160-pound Brennan sitting on Grey MacLean, who weighed 40 pounds at the time. According to court records, Brennan also held Grey MacLean’s body down and forced peaches down his throat, which caused him to vomit.

Debi MacLean said the abuse seemed to undo progress her son made with the help of other teachers, but added he appears to be recovering.

AP-ES-05-03-03 1216EDT