At Bristol Crown Court on Monday, 9 February, Nathan Bennett, 30, from Corston near Bath, was convicted of eight charges, including two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration relating to five children.
Bennett, who was described by the judge as “every parent’s worst nightmare,” had previously admitted to 13 other charges relating to four of the five victims who were aged two at the time, including sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Parents are now demanding a review of nursery procedures.
During the trial, Bristol Crown Court heard how Bennett befriended the children, got them alone and assaulted them at Partou King Street in Bristol between July 2024 and February
When he applied for the job, he had previous experience in pre-school care and presented as “credible.”
Prosecuting barrister Virginia Cornwall told the jury Bennett was “tactile, attentive, you will see that there’s hair ruffling, there’s touching, there’s closeness, the sorts of things that little children perhaps respond to – making them feel special and safe with him.”
She added: “They (the children) were not to understand what his interest was in them, or why he was doing what he was doing.
“‘A child of that age simply would not comprehend, would they, that it was sexual or necessarily wrong?”
The court also heard how parents became worried about his close relationship with some children.
Bennett was warned about this, given further training and made to take a leave of absence in February 2025.
On his return, staff made a spot-check of his behaviour on CCTV, and he was seen abusing a toddler.
