Nursery Carer Convicted After Shocking Abuse of 21 Babies
A 22-year-old nursery worker from Hounslow, west London, has been convicted of abusing 21 babies in what prosecutors have called an act of “exceptional cruelty.”
Roksana Lecka admitted to seven counts of child cruelty and was found guilty of 14 additional charges following a trial at Kingston Crown Court. Her sentencing is scheduled for 26 September.
Lecka’s abuse came to light in June 2024 after colleagues at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham noticed she was behaving erratically and pinching children. She was sent home, and a review of CCTV footage revealed a disturbing pattern of physical abuse.
Footage showed her pinching, scratching, and grabbing children under their clothes, often on their arms, legs, and stomachs, acts that left many of them flinching and crying in pain.
In one of the most shocking incidents, Lecka was seen kicking a little boy in the face multiple times and stepping on his shoulder. She also dropped babies into their cots headfirst and covered a toddler’s mouth to silence his cries.
Detectives confirmed that her abuse spanned two nurseries, Riverside Nursery in Twickenham and Little Munchkins in Hounslow, between October 2023 and June 2024.
Lecka told police she had smoked cannabis before her shifts, and CCTV showed her vaping just a metre away from a baby. Her actions have left families devastated. Solicitor Jemma Till, representing some of the affected families, said they had been “traumatised” by the abuse.
The scale and severity of the case have prompted calls for urgent reform. Twickenham MP Munira Wilson emphasized the importance of no-notice Ofsted inspections and routine CCTV reviews in childcare settings to prevent such incidents from recurring. She stressed that parents must be able to trust that their children are safe in professional care.
In response, a spokesperson for Riverside Nurseries acknowledged the profound breach of trust and said that since the incident, Ofsted had inspected all of their sites and deemed their safeguarding arrangements “effective.” They reaffirmed their commitment to creating safe, nurturing environments for children.
This case has shaken public confidence in early years childcare and highlighted the need for stricter oversight and accountability in nurseries across the country.
