Paedophile nursery worker found guilty of multiple sexual offences against children

Nathan Bennett has been convicted of sexually abused five children in his care at Partou King Street nursery in Bristol - as families of the victims say they have been left ‘devastated’

Nathan Bennett previously admitted 13 other charges relating to four of the five victims, who were aged two at the time (Avon and Somerset Police)

A nursery worker has been found guilty of sexually abusing children in a horrific case that was “every parent’s nightmare”.

Nathan Bennett was caught on CCTV showing predatory behaviour toward young children, including putting his hands down the trousers of a child, as he worked at the Partou King Street nursery in Bristol.

After his arrest following a six-month police investigation, a trial at Bristol Crown Court was told Bennett showed a “jealous attachment” with five children and would “take control of them”.

On Monday, the 30-year-old was found guilty of eight charges, including rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration, relating to children aged two or three. He had previously admitted 13 other charges relating to four of the five victims, who were aged two at the time.

Virginia Cornwall, prosecuting, had told the jury at the beginning of the trial that the events at the now-closed nursery were “you may think every parent’s nightmare”.

Following Bennett’s conviction, the families of the victims said they were “devastated by the horrific abuse children have suffered at the hands of someone whom we all trusted to care for them”.

Bennett was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court (PA)

The trial heard how, less than a year after Bennett began working at the nursery in July 2024, the manager, Victoria Tutton, viewed the CCTV footage which showed him placing his hands down a child’s trousers, and reported him to the police.

The jury was told how staff had noted him sit children on his lap for lengthy periods of time, wear a pair of trousers with holes in the crotch area, and seemed "territorial" over certain toddlers and their parents.

During the trial, one of the victims, referred to in court as Child E, gave evidence, aged just three. He described how he was sexually assaulted by Bennett in the “toilet area” of the nursery. “Then I turned around and he was gone,” the boy said.

Giving evidence, Bennett, of Corston, Bath, said he was "emulating" what was done to him as a child and denied having a sexual attraction to children.

He was convicted of two charges of raping a child, four charges of sexual assault of a child and two charges of assault of a child by penetration. He had previously pleaded guilty to eight charges sexual assault of a child, four charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Following the jury’s verdict, Bennett was remanded in custody by Judge William Hart ahead of sentencing on 16 March. “I will sentence you for what will inevitably be a very long sentence of custody,” the judge told Bennett.

After Bennett was sent down, families of the children abused said they had been left devastated by Bennett’s crimes.

In a statement issued by law firm Leigh Day, which represents several of the families involved, they said: "Nothing can begin to explain the shock, anger and heartbreak we feel - or the profound and lasting impact we are sure this will have on families.

"The children were innocent and completely vulnerable; they were in a place that should have been safe.”

The families are now calling for answers on why Bennett was allowed to work with young children and what checks were made.

Detective Constable Bethany Cook, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Nathan Bennett was trusted to care for very young children, but instead committed sexual offences against them at his place of work.

“This investigation involving such young children was deeply challenging and distressing for all concerned, and I would like to commend the support and strength shown by those families.

“This case has caused significant anxiety for other families whose children attended the nursery during the time these offences were committed and, when appropriate, we’ve tried to keep them informed.”