A former male nursery worker who carried out multiple sexual offenses against toddlers under his care has been sentenced to jail. Nathan Bennett, aged 30, who previously worked at Partou King Street nursery in Bristol, was found guilty of eight charges, including rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration, involving five boys aged between two and three. He had already admitted to 13 other charges related to four of these children, who were two years old at the time of the crimes in February of the previous year.
At Bristol Crown Court, Bennett received a 24-year prison sentence followed by six years on extended license. The prosecution highlighted that Bennett’s actions showed a significant level of premeditation.
During sentencing, Judge William Hart described Bennett as an “incorrigible and dangerous pedophile” and labeled his actions as “evil.”
Following the court proceedings, senior crown prosecutor Gemma Kneebone expressed the severity of Bennett’s offenses, stating they were among the most appalling and distressing she had encountered. She emphasized the breach of trust parents place in caregivers and the unimaginable betrayal that occurred in this case.
Andrew Lord, a partner at Leigh Day representing affected families, described the case as deeply distressing and raised concerns about safeguarding and supervision failures leading up to Bennett’s arrest. He reiterated the importance of holding Bennett responsible for his crimes and mentioned ongoing investigations into potential legal action on behalf of affected families.
Temporary Detective Inspector Lucy Ford from Avon and Somerset Police highlighted the challenging nature of investigating offenses involving such young children, emphasizing the distress caused to all involved.
An NSPCC spokesperson condemned Bennett’s abuse of trust at the nursery, emphasizing the lifelong impact of child sexual abuse on victims and their families.
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