Paedophile nursery worker jailed after sexually abusing young children

A nursery worker who raped and abused young children in her care has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.

Nathan Bennett, 30, preyed on two- and three-year-old children at the nursery in Partou King Street, Bristol.

He was found guilty by a jury last month of eight charges, including rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration, involving five children.

He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and his license extended by six years at Bristol Crown Court on Monday.

Bennett had previously pleaded guilty to a further 13 charges relating to four of the five victims, who were two years old at the time.

The court heard concerns were raised by parents and staff about Bennett’s behavior towards children in his care in February last year.

Police launched an investigation after security cameras spotted Bennett putting his hands down a child’s trousers, which led to Bennett’s arrest and subsequent closure of the nursery.

The court heard staff members made him sit with children on his lap for long periods of time, wore trousers with holes in the crotch area and appeared to be “territorial” towards some young children and their parents.

During the trial, the jury was shown video interviews with two children, referred to in the case only as Child A and Child E.

Child E’s mother also gave statements describing how her son was abused at the nursery.

“I got him to stop doing that. I asked him when it happened. He said it happened in kindergarten,” she said.

Giving evidence, Bennett said he was “imitating” what was done to him as a child and denied any sexual attraction to children.

This is a breaking story, more to come…