In a shocking case that has sent ripples through the community, 22-year-old nursery worker Roksana Lecka was convicted of abusing an alarming total of 21 infants, including heinous acts such as kicking one little boy in the face and stepping on his shoulder. This deeply troubling incident occurred at Riverside Nursery, located in Twickenham, south-west London, where Lecka’s cruel behavior was ultimately uncovered.
The prosecution outlined that Lecka was charged with seven counts of cruelty toward minors, and a jury subsequently found her guilty of an additional 14 charges at Kingston Crown Court. Authorities became aware of her abusive actions back in June of the previous year when Lecka exhibited erratic behavior, including pinching several children and appearing “flustered.” Her actions raised immediate red flags to fellow staff members at the nursery, prompting an internal investigation that would unveil a series of shocking events.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police meticulously sifted through surveillance footage from the nursery, which documented Lecka’s abusive misconduct. This footage revealed heart-wrenching scenes of her pinching and scratching the children, some of whom were just babies. Families of the affected children were understandably traumatized by this revelation, as highlighted by solicitor Jemma Till from Irwin Mitchell, who represents these families in litigation against Lecka.
The horrifying scale of Lecka’s cruelty was made evident through several disturbing incidents captured on video. Reports indicate that she repeatedly pinched children throughout a single day, causing them to cry and flinch away in fear. In a particularly distressing episode, she kicked a young boy in the face multiple times and callously mistreated other infants by pushing them headfirst over cots and attempting to stifle a toddler’s cries by covering his mouth, actions that exemplified a grave violation of trust.
Moreover, it has been revealed that Lecka’s abusive behavior spanned two nurseries, with some counts related to her time at Little Munchkins in Hounslow, while most allegations were associated with her tenure at Riverside Nursery, which has since been permanently shut down due to these events.
Detective Sergeant Geoff Boye stated, “Footage showed Lecka carrying out multiple assaults on the children in her care, which included repeatedly pinching and grabbing children, dropping babies into their cots and, on one occasion, delivering several kicks to a young boy’s face while standing on his shoulder.” Such testimonies paint a nightmarish picture of the abuse the children endured during their formative years, a time when trust should be paramount.
In a tragic admission, Lecka disclosed to police that she smoked cannabis before her shifts, with some incidents occurring while she was noticeably under the influence. Detective Inspector Sian Hutchings condemned Lecka’s actions, expressing the shock and betrayal experienced by families who entrusted her with their children’s safety. The video evidence presented in court was characterized as deeply disturbing, prompting moral outrage from all present.
In the wake of this conviction, there have been calls for urgent reforms in nursery and childcare settings to ensure safety and protect vulnerable children. Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson voiced the urgent need for reforms to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future. She emphasized the need for no-notice inspections by regulatory bodies, like Ofsted, as a measure to bolster accountability and safeguard children.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of these events, Lecka’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26 at Kingston Crown Court, where the gravity of her actions and the enduring trauma inflicted upon those innocent children will once again take center stage. Families affected by this tragedy continue to seek justice, hoping that systemic changes will help protect future generations from such abhorrent behavior in childcare facilities.