Nursery worker convicted of serious sexual offences against children in his care

A nursery worker has been convicted at Bristol Crown Court of multiple sexual assaults against children in his care, including two counts of rape.

Nathan Bennett, aged 30, was convicted by a jury of two counts of raping a child, four counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of assault of a child by penetration.

Bennett, who denied the offences, had pleaded guilty to 13 other sexual offences at an earlier hearing.

The children were aged between two and three years old when the offences took place at the nursery in Bristol.

During the trial a video interview with one of Bennett’s young victims was shown, in which they described what happened to them.

A safeguarding concern was raised about Bennett in February 2025, after a member of staff observed him touching a child inappropriately on CCTV. He was reported to police and the local authority and arrested the same day.

Bennett will be sentenced at a later date.

Gemma Kneebone of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Nathan Bennett’s sexual interest in young children led him to choose a profession that gave him access to the most vulnerable of victims.

“He exploited the trust placed in him by parents and the school, repeatedly abusing children whilst grooming them to think that his behaviour was normal.

“To discover that a person you entrusted with your child’s care could abuse their position in such a way is every parent’s worst nightmare.

“During the trial the jury was shown a video interview with a three-year-old who was one of Bennett’s victims. It is unusual, and obviously upsetting, to see such a young child give evidence, and the judge ruled that the recording could be shown without the need for the child to be cross-examined.”