Nursery worker guilty of raping children

A nursery worker has been found guilty of sexually abusing children in what was described in court as "every parent's nightmare".

Nathan Bennett was convicted of two counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of assault by penetration. The charges related to five boys at the Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol, who were two and three years old at the time.

He had previously admitted 13 other sexual offence charges relating to four of the boys, who were two years old.

The 30-year-old, of Corston in Bath, was arrested in August 2025 following a six-month investigation by Avon and Somerset Police.

Warning: This story contains distressing details

The jury at Bristol Crown Court was sent out to consider its verdicts on Friday afternoon, following four days of evidence.

Bennett began working at the nursery in July 2024. He was arrested in February 2025 after the nursery's manager Victoria Tutton saw CCTV footage of him putting his hands down a child's trousers and reported him to the police.

The nursery closed in December 2025.

At the beginning of the trial, Virginia Cornwall, prosecuting, told jurors that concerns were raised by parents and staff about Bennett's behaviour towards the children in his care before his arrest.

"The events that were to unfold... are, you may think, every parent's nightmare," she said.

"A person entrusted to be responsible for your child, care for your child, nurture your child - at times when you are unable to provide that parental care - that abuses that position, that trust, that role, and sexually abuses your child."

Staff noted that Bennett sat children on his lap for lengthy periods of time, wore a pair of trousers with holes in the crotch area, and acted "territorial" over certain toddlers and their parents, the court heard.

Nursery practitioner Elizabeth Burton told the court that Bennett had a "jealous attachment" with five children and would "take control" of them.

During the trial, the jury watched video interviews of two children in the case, who were referred to as Child A and Child E.

Child E's mother also gave evidence and said her son had demonstrated how he had been abused at nursery.

Det Insp Lucy Forde, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the investigation into Bennett's crimes were deeply challenging and distressing for all concerned.

"This case has also caused significant anxiety for other families whose children attended the nursery during the time these offences were committed. And, where appropriate, we've kept them informed.

"We understand that anyone with children who've been in contact with Nathan may have questions and concerns.

"They can contact our child protection team through a dedicated form that can be accessed via the Avon and Somerset website."