A 22-year-old childcare worker, Roksana Lecka, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for physically abusing 21 children at two nurseries in London. Lecka faced multiple charges, including kicking, punching, and pinching infants, some as young as 18 months old. The abuse came to light in June 2024 after parents reported unusual injuries on their children, prompting an investigation by the authorities.
Lecka worked at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, where she was observed engaging in troubling behavior, including vaping over children’s cots. Parents began voicing concerns in March and May 2024, noting unexplained bruises and scratches on their children. The situation escalated when Lecka was sent home after pinching several children, leading to a review of CCTV footage that captured her abusive actions.
According to The Guardian, the footage revealed disturbing incidents where Lecka kicked one child in the face repeatedly and covered another toddler’s mouth when he began to cry. She would also pinch children under their clothing multiple times a day. The majority of her offenses occurred at Riverside Nursery, with only one charge linked to her second workplace.
Upon her arrest, Lecka admitted to using cannabis before her shifts and described herself as “addicted” to her boyfriend. Initially denying the accusations, she later pleaded guilty to seven counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16, in addition to being convicted of 14 other charges.
In court, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC condemned Lecka’s actions, labeling them as “gratuitous violence.” She detailed the extent of the abuse, stating, “You pinched, slapped, punched, smacked and kicked them. You pulled their ears, hair, and their toes. You toppled children head first into cots.” Judge Plaschkes noted that Lecka would often check to ensure no other staff members were observing her behavior, indicating a clear awareness of her wrongdoing.
The emotional impact on families was profound, with several parents testifying about their feelings of guilt for leaving their children in Lecka’s care. One parent expressed that their child was “totally helpless” and that Lecka preyed upon them, while another described her as the “worst kind of human.”
Legal representative Jemma Till from Irwin Mitchell, who advocated for the affected families, emphasized that Lecka had abused her position of trust. Till raised concerns about how such egregious behavior went unnoticed for months, highlighting the need for better oversight in childcare settings.
As the case concludes, the community continues to grapple with the implications of this disturbing abuse, reflecting on the importance of vigilance in safeguarding the welfare of children in care.