A mother expressed her shock and disappointment upon learning that the nursery teacher she had voiced concerns about turned out to be a heinous paedophile. Nathan Bennett, 30, was labeled as a “predatory” paedophile after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting young children under his care at the Partou’s Kings Street nursery in Bristol. The distraught mother disclosed that she had only discovered the abhorrent crimes committed by the paedophile through news reports and not from the nursery itself.
During the trial, it was revealed that Bennett’s vile actions were captured on CCTV, showing him inappropriately touching a child after concerns were raised by both staff and parents. The mother, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that she had raised concerns with the nursery a month prior to Bennett’s arrest when she witnessed him kissing a boy on the face at the end of a school day.
According to the mother, there was another incident where she allegedly saw Bennett hugging a little boy while the child was seated on his lap and touching his leg. Despite Bennett being initially suspended by the nursery and reported to Bristol City Council, he was reinstated to work after five days, with the incident deemed not significant enough for further action.
Following his arrest by Avon and Somerset Police on February 26, 2025, Bennett was sentenced to 30 years in prison on March 16 of the same year for multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration. The mother expressed remorse for leaving her child in Bennett’s care and pondered what might have been had she taken action sooner.
The trial also shed light on Bennett’s concerning behavior at the nursery, where he was observed spending prolonged periods with children on his lap, wearing trousers with holes in the crotch area, and displaying possessive tendencies towards certain toddlers and their parents. Subsequently, the nursery was shut down by Ofsted in December 2025.
The mother is among 12 families being represented by the Leigh Day law firm, with the families emphasizing their shattered trust in the nursery and alleging that warnings and complaints about Bennett were disregarded. Bristol City Council stated that they had provided guidance to the nursery in response to parental concerns and that all processes concerning the nursery were conducted in compliance with statutory requirements.