Nursery Worker Nathan Bennett Jailed After Sexually Abusing Toddlers
Nathan Bennett has been sentenced to 30 years, with at least two-thirds of that to be served in prison, after sexually abusing toddlers at the nursery where he worked. Families connected to the setting say there are unanswered questions about whether the abuse could have been stopped earlier.
Nathan Bennett Sentenced to 30 Years
Bennett, of Corston near Bath, was convicted of two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of assault by penetration. He had previously admitted 13 other sexual offence charges. The children he abused were aged two and three when the offences occurred. Bennett had started working at the Kings Street nursery in Bristol in July 2024.
Families Demand Answers Over Safeguarding
Families from the nursery say questions remain about the response of the setting while Bennett was on staff. One parent, named Anna but not using her real name, said: “He preyed on toddlers, and they [the nursery] didn’t do enough to stop it. ” Anna’s child was at the Partou-run Kings Street nursery while Bennett was working there, though that child was not one of the five boys included in the court case.
After raising serious concerns with staff before Bennett’s arrest, Anna said she believed he could have been stopped earlier. She described noticing behaviour that moved from “a bit weird” to “a bit creepy, ” and identified two incidents she was “absolutely certain” crossed a line. In one, which she placed in December 2024, and another in January 2025, she saw Bennett hold a child on his lap, rub the child’s leg and read him a story. She said the conduct occurred “in plain sight and it went on too long. “
The nursery’s operator said an independent review into safeguarding at Kings Street found it was compliant with national guidance. After Anna raised concerns with the nursery manager, she was told the manager would speak with a regional manager and that the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) was informed.
What Is Known Now And What Families Want Next
With Bennett now behind bars, parents and other families connected to the nursery are calling for clarity about the timeline of complaints and the steps taken by the provider and local authorities while he was employed. Some families say they want to know whether earlier action might have prevented further abuse. The sentencing and the convictions set the legal outcome for Bennett; families continue to press for answers about institutional and safeguarding failures at the nursery while the incidents unfolded.
The focus for families now is on explanations and any further reviews of how concerns raised by parents were handled, and on ensuring that lessons are drawn to prevent similar harm in the future.
