A Montessori nursery worker caught on camera pinching and scratching young children in her care has been convicted of child cruelty.
Roksana Lecka, 22, assaulted and mistreated 21 children when she was trusted to care for youngsters aged from 10 months to two-years-old at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham.
She was sent home from work last June when a colleague reported seeing Lecka pinching some of the children during the day.
Police were called, and CCTV then revealed Lecka’s “systematic” abuse, including kicking children, vaping nearby, and pinching and scratching the youngsters under their clothes on their arms, legs and stomachs.
The Crown Prosecution Service said some of the victims were attacked by Lecka repeatedly during the course of their day at the nursery, with footage showing them crying and flinching as she inflicted the pain.
Lecka was also convicted of 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.
Footage combed over by Met Police detectives also showed Lecka vaping less than a metre away from a baby.
She pleaded guilty at the start of her trial to seven counts of child cruelty, and was convicted of 14 further charges of child cruelty following a Kingston crown court trial.
Lawyers for parents of the some of the victims said they are “not only deeply shocked but also traumatised by what their children have endured”.
“This is sadly yet another devastating case where children have suffered at the hands of someone in a position of trust”, said Jemma Till, from law firm Irwin Mitchell.
“Whilst Lecka’s actions have been stopped, the consequences of those actions are likely to affect families for many years. Nothing can undo what has happened but it’s now vital that lessons are learned, and where appropriate, measures introduced to prevent other children being harmed.
“In the meantime, we’re focused on supporting the families and helping them come to terms with Lecka’s dreadful actions.”
CPS lawyer Gemma Burns said after the convictions: “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.”
The CPS said several parents reported unusual bruising and injuries on their children between March and May last year. She worked as an Early Years Educator at the nursery in Twickenham between January and June 2024.
When arrested, Lecka, from Hounslow, refused to answer questions. Video of her being arrested and then giving a “no comment” interview to officers has been released by the Metropolitan Police. She was found not guilty of a further three charges of child cruelty.
Lecka faces a lengthy prison term when she is sentenced on September 26.
