Nursery worker who raped children jailed for 30 years

A nursery worker in Bristol has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing multiple toddlers, a case described in court as a parent’s worst nightmare. Nathan Bennett, who worked at the Partou King Street Nursery, was convicted in February on charges including two counts of rape involving five boys aged two and three at the time of the offences. Bennett, 30, from Corston near Bath, had previously pleaded guilty to 13 additional sexual offence charges connected to four of the boys.

During the sentencing, Judge William Hart labelled Bennett as “evil” and condemned him as an “incorrigible and dangerous paedophile.” The judge detailed how Bennett was “lurking, ready” to exploit children and “pollute their innocence” driven by “his own vile desires.” It was ruled that Bennett will serve at least two-thirds of his 30-year sentence while incarcerated.

Bennett began his role at the nursery in July 2024. By February 2025, concerns emerged over his conduct with a particular group of five young boys, whom the prosecution said he appeared to “favour.” After reviewing CCTV footage showing Bennett putting his hands down a child’s trousers, the nursery immediately suspended him and reported the behaviour to the Local Authority Designated Officer, who handles allegations involving adults working with children. Avon and Somerset Police were informed the following day, triggering a six-month investigation that culminated in Bennett’s arrest and subsequent charges. The nursery closed permanently in December 2025 after Ofsted’s intervention.

Statements from the victims’ families were read aloud in court by prosecuting barrister Virginia Cornwall. One mother described her son as a “hilarious, cheeky, happy little boy” whose trust had been “manipulated and ultimately destroyed.” She expressed uncertainty about the long-term impact of the abuse on her child’s future. Another set of parents spoke about their son’s transformation after being groomed, initially thinking Bennett was “clumsy but very paternal” before realizing the extent of the abuse. Detective Inspector Lucy Forde from Avon and Somerset Police, who led much of the investigation, explained her team spent “hundreds of hours” reviewing nursery CCTV footage, which only covered the month preceding it being overwritten. She called the footage “absolutely sickening,” describing how Bennett abused children openly in the nursery, sometimes within sight of other kids. Although four victims were identified through CCTV, a fifth child came forward later after confiding in their parents. The police have since launched a public portal allowing parents of children who attended the nursery to report any concerns and speak with specially trained child protection officers

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