Nursery worker who abused multiple children convicted of child cruelty

A former nursery worker who systematically abused multiple young children in her care has been convicted today.

Roksana Lecka, 22, of Hounslow, assaulted and mistreated 21 babies while working at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, London. She previously pleaded guilty to seven counts of cruelty towards a person under the age of 16 at the start of her trial. 

On June 28, a colleague reported Lecka’s behaviour as being unusual and “flustered”. She was sent home and another member of staff reported that Lecka had pinched a number of children that day.

Officers with the Metropolitan Police reviewed CCTV from a number of days in June 2024 that showed her pinching and scratching children under their clothes on their arms, legs and stomachs. 

Several of the children were seen to be pinched dozens of times over the course of the day. Most cried and flinched away from Lecka after she did this.

Other instances of abuse included kicking a child who was on the floor, pushing children headfirst over cots, shoving another child onto a mattress in the sleep room and aggressively covering a toddler’s mouth as he started to cry.

Gemma Burns of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Lecka repeatedly showed exceptional cruelty in her appalling treatment of these babies. No parent should have to fear leaving their child in the care of professionals, but the sheer scale of her abuse is staggering.

“The CPS put forward compelling evidence that clearly showed her targeting children when colleagues were either out of the room, or had their backs turned. We also called on experts to prove that the injuries Lecka’s victims sustained were consistent with pinch marks.

“Lecka was placed in a position of trust and her job required her to provide safety and protection. Instead, she kicked, scratched, and pinched these young children, with this vile abuse of vulnerable victims continuing for many months.”

Several parents of the children who had been under Lecka’s care also reported unusual injuries and bruising in March and May 2024. 

The CPS called on expert evidence to prove that the areas in which the bruises occurred (such as ears, armpits and forearms) were consistent with pinch marks and therefore unlikely to have been caused by accidents.

Lecka worked as an Early Years Educator at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham between January and June 2024. There were no previous safeguarding concerns at the time she successfully applied for the role.