An MP has pledged to make nurseries safer after a horrific abuse case at a nursery in Twickenham exposed “frightening gaps” in safeguarding.
Roksana Lecka, 22, was convicted of 21 counts of child cruelty at Twickenham Green Montessori nursery, which is part of the Riverside Nursery group.
Lecka, from Hounslow, west London, was sentenced to eight years in prison at Kingston Crown Court on September 26.
The nursery worker’s actions were described as “gratuitous” and “sadistic” by Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC.
Judge Plaschkes told the defendant, "You committed multiple acts of gratuitous violence.
"You pinched, slapped, punched, smacked, and kicked them. You pulled their ears, hair, and their toes. You toppled children headfirst into cots. You caused bruising and lingering red marks.
"When you committed these acts of cruelty, you would look at the other members of staff to make sure that they were not watching you.
"Often the child would be quietly and happily minding their own business before you deliberately inflicted pain, causing the child to cry, arch, try to get away or writhe around in distress."
Munira Wilson, MP for Twickenham, met with parents of the children who were abused at the £1,900-a-month nursery to discuss their experiences, as well as provision of care for infants, the use of CCTV, nursery worker training, hiring practices, and whistleblowing.
Commenting on the case, Wilson said that it revealed “frightening weaknesses in safeguarding” in the UK nursery sector.
She said: “For the children who were abused and their parents, we need to see real change to how safeguarding is implemented and enforced.
Wilson said parents feel “completely blindsided” by the “lack of transparency” around how nursery workers are assessed and trained, especially when left responsible for vulnerable children and babies.
The Twickenham MP emphasised the developmental importance of the first five years of a child’s life, and the necessity of parents trusting childcare providers.
Wilson urged the government to “do everything in its power” to ensure nurseries are safe for children and promised to lobby for change.
She added: “I will continue to press the Government to make the necessary changes to protect our children so that this abuse can never happen to another child again.”
