A nursery worker in southwest England has been jailed for at least 24 years for sexually abusing and raping toddlers in his care.
Nathan Bennett, 30, was sentenced on Monday at Bristol Crown Court for the serial abuse of five boys, aged two and three, at Partou King Street Nursery, where he began working in 2024.
Judge William Hart described Bennett as an “incorrigible and dangerous paedophile” and said he had “prioritised [his] own sexual satisfaction over the welfare of these little children,” calling his actions “evil.”
Bennett was convicted last month of eight charges, including rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration, and had previously admitted to 13 other offences involving four of the same children. Prosecutor Gemma Kneebone said Bennett “exploited his position” to repeatedly abuse young children.
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The sentence follows a similar case in London last month, in which nursery worker Vincent Chan was jailed for 18 years for abusing children during naptime. Chan’s case prompted Prime Minister Keir Starmer to consider mandatory security cameras in nurseries, a measure currently under consultation.
Families of Bennett’s victims said the abuse continued despite concerns raised to staff, suggesting some incidents could have been prevented with proper oversight. Their lawyer, Andrew Lord, called for “answers, accountability and assurances that safeguarding has drastically improved.”