Mother's Anguish Over Nursery Sex Abuser Nathan Bennett
A mother has expressed profound disgust and guilt after learning that a nursery teacher she had previously raised concerns about was actually a predatory paedophile. Nathan Bennett, aged 30, was described as evil and predatory when he was jailed for raping and sexually abusing young children under his care at the Partou's Kings Street nursery in Bristol.
Heartbreaking Discovery and Lingering Regret
The heartbroken mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous, revealed that she only discovered Bennett's horrific crimes through news reports, not from the nursery itself. She described dropping off her child with Bennett on the very day he was arrested, only to find out later that the staff member had vanished by the end of the day without explanation.
She shared her deep regret, stating: "I should have taken my child out of the nursery, but I didn’t. I sat on it and trusted the nursery manager. You lie there and think: what if I had said something to someone else?" This guilt stems from her decision to continue leaving her child at the nursery despite her unease.
Concerns Raised and Ignored
The mother told the Independent that she had raised concerns to the nursery a month before Bennett's arrest. She claimed to have witnessed two disturbing incidents:
- Seeing Bennett kiss a boy on the face while speaking to her at the end of a school day.
- Observing him hugging a little boy sitting on his lap while touching his leg.
She alleged that Bennett was suspended briefly, but the nursery, after informing Bristol City Council, brought him back to work just five days later. She was reportedly told that the incident "did not meet the threshold" for further action, leaving her concerns unaddressed.
Trial Details and Conviction
During the trial, the court heard how Bennett's disgusting acts were uncovered when CCTV footage showed him putting his hands down a child's trousers, following concerns raised by staff and parents. Bennett was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police on February 26, 2025, and later sentenced to 30 years in prison on March 16, 2026.
He was convicted of multiple serious offences, including:
- Two counts of rape
- Four counts of sexual assault
- Two counts of assault by penetration
Bennett had previously admitted 13 other charges related to four of the five victims, all of whom were just two years old at the time of the abuse.
Harrowing Conversations and Ongoing Worries
The mother also recounted the distressing conversation she was forced to have with her young child amid the shocking revelations. She said: "I asked my child [if they were abused] and they said 'no'. It's not a conversation I ever want to have with a child aged two – asking them if they saw and if they experienced it. And I worry if I will ever know the true answer." This uncertainty adds to her ongoing anguish and fear.
Nursery Environment and Closure
The trial revealed that staff had noted Bennett's concerning behaviors, such as sitting children on his lap for lengthy periods, wearing trousers with holes in the crotch area, and acting "territorial" over certain toddlers and their parents. In response to the scandal, the nursery was closed by Ofsted in December 2025, highlighting systemic failures in safeguarding.
Legal Action and Family Statements
This mother is one of 12 families being represented by the Leigh Day law firm. In a statement issued after sentencing, the families expressed their devastation: "We entrusted our children to Partou King Street nursery believing they would be safe, cared for and nurtured. Instead, that trust was catastrophically broken by someone who abused his position in the most unimaginable way. We know concerns were raised to members of staff – we believe those warnings and complaints were not properly followed up or escalated."
Council Response and Accountability
Bristol City Council responded to the Independent, stating: "We were contacted by the manager of the Partou nursery in Bristol at the start of February 2025 for guidance about parental concerns. Advice was provided, based on information available to us at the time. The LADO does not make decisions about staff suspension as this responsibility remains with the employer. All LADO processes in relation to this nursery group have been robust, timely, and compliant with statutory requirements." The Mirror has also reached out to Bristol City Council for further comment, underscoring the ongoing scrutiny of institutional responses.
