London childcare worker jailed for eight years for pinching, kicking 21 babies

A 22-year-old childcare worker was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of cruelty to 21 infants across two nurseries in London. Roksana Lecka, who worked at Riverside nursery in Twickenham and a second London site, was discovered to have pinched, kicked and punched children in her care. The case unfolded after concerns raised by parents and a police review of surveillance footage in 2024.

Investigators said Lecka’s abuse was detected when she was sent home from work in June 2024 after pinching several children. Parents had reported unusual injuries to their children in March and May of that year. Police reviewed CCTV footage and observed Lecka repeatedly attacking children aged between 18 months and two years, including pinching them under their clothes, scratching them and pushing them. In one incident, she kicked a little boy in the face repeatedly, and she was seen covering a toddler’s mouth when he cried. Most of the abuse occurred at Riverside nursery in Twickenham, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Police also said Lecka would vape over the cots of sleeping children, adding to the disturbing pattern of behavior. At her first appearance, she acknowledged smoking cannabis before shifts and said she was addicted to her boyfriend. Lecka initially denied the allegations but later pled guilty to seven counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16. Prosecutors later said she was convicted on a further 14 charges, bringing the total to 21 counts.

In court, Judge Sarah Plasczkes KC described Lecka’s actions as “gratuitous violence.” She said, “You pinched, slapped, punched, smacked and kicked them. You pulled their ears, hair and their toes. You toppled children head first into cots. You caused bruising and lingering red marks.” The judge added that Lecka would often look at other staff to ensure they were not watching her, underscoring the breach of trust at the heart of the offences.

Families affected by Lecka’s conduct gave testimony about the pain and distress experienced by their children. “They were totally helpless and Roksana preyed upon them,” one parent said, describing the fear and confusion behind the injuries observed by caregivers and doctors. Another parent, represented by Irwin Mitchell, conveyed by lawyer Jemma Till, said Lecka had abused her position of trust and raised questions about how the abuse went unnoticed for months. Till described the case as one that exposed serious safeguarding gaps in the setting.

Lecka pled guilty to seven counts of cruelty to a person under the age of 16. Official court records indicate she was later convicted on 14 additional counts, culminating in a total of 21 charges related to the abuse of 21 children. The Metropolitan Police stated that the investigation involved a thorough review of CCTV footage and interviews conducted with staff and families.

The sentencing judge highlighted the severity of the acts, emphasizing that the cruelty occurred in a setting where children rely on caregivers for safety and protection. The ruling, which aligns with prior sentencing patterns for severe child cruelty offenses, aims to reflect both the harm to the victims and the breach of trust that allowed the abuse to occur.

The case has drawn renewed attention to safeguarding standards in early-years settings and the importance of rapid, transparent investigations when caregivers are suspected of harming children. Authorities said they would continue to review safeguarding procedures to prevent similar harm in the future.

For the families involved, the outcome brings a measure of accountability after a period of fear and uncertainty. While the eight-year sentence cannot undo the harm suffered by the children, prosecutors said the result reflects the seriousness of the offenses and serves as a warning to others about reputational and legal consequences for those who abuse their positions of trust.