Parents wept as Roksana Lecka, 22, found guilty of ‘badly harming’ infants at prestigious Twickenham nursery after blaming attacks on being ‘sleep deprived from smoking cannabis all night’
A NURSERY worker who blamed her sadistic attacks on toddlers on smoking cannabis all night with her boyfriend has today been found guilty of assaulting 21 infants at a £1,900-a-month Montessori school.
Roksana Lecka, 22, was convicted of “badly harming” vulnerable children in her care at the prestigious Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, south-west London, in a case that has shocked parents and childcare professionals alike.
Parents wept in the public gallery at Kingston Crown Court as the jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts, while Lecka was also tearful as she was led away to the cells to await sentencing.
Cannabis excuse rejected
The Polish national had admitted seven counts of child cruelty, including the horrific incidents of kicking a boy in the face and punching a girl in the side.
She attempted to justify her violent behaviour by claiming she was sleep deprived from smoking cannabis all night with her boyfriend – an excuse that clearly failed to convince the jury.
Lecka denied 17 other similar charges but after nine hours and 53 minutes of deliberation, jurors convicted her of 14 of the remaining counts and acquitted her of just three.
Horror caught on CCTV
The court was shown harrowing CCTV footage that left both jurors and parents gasping in horror as they witnessed Lecka’s brutal attacks on defenceless toddlers.
One particularly shocking piece of footage showed Lecka kicking a boy in the face four times before callously stepping on his shoulder, leaving the child writhing in agony.
The trainers she was wearing during this vicious assault were later seized by police as evidence.
Another disturbing clip captured Lecka punching a baby after dragging her out of a cot – attacks that were described as “sadistic” by those who viewed them.
Parents’ worst nightmare
Concerned parents first began photographing and reporting unexplained injuries on their children’s tiny bodies as early as March last year.
Bruises, scratches and other marks that couldn’t be explained by normal nursery activities began appearing on the vulnerable infants in Lecka’s care.
The parents’ worst fears were confirmed when they watched in horror in court as the full extent of Lecka’s cruelty was revealed through the nursery’s security footage.
Staff intervention
It wasn’t until staff at the £1,900-a-month nursery noticed children had been scratched and bruised that action was finally taken.
Lecka was suspended on June 28, 2024, prompting a thorough investigation that would uncover the full extent of her crimes.
After watching hours of CCTV footage and reviewing evidence painstakingly compiled by worried parents, Lecka was charged with 24 counts of child cruelty.
Judge’s extraordinary decision
In an unusual move that underscored the disturbing nature of the case, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC exempted the jury from future service for the next 10 years.
This exceptional decision reflected the traumatic impact of viewing footage of Lecka’s attacks on innocent toddlers.
The judge remanded Lecka in custody ahead of her sentencing on September 26.
Elite nursery’s reputation shattered
The Riverside Nursery, part of the prestigious Riverside Nursery Schools group in south-west London, charges parents up to £1,900 per month for childcare.
The Montessori-method nursery had built a reputation for excellence in early years education, making the revelations about Lecka’s behaviour all the more shocking for parents who had entrusted their children to its care.
21 victims identified
In total, 21 toddlers were identified as victims of Lecka’s cruelty during her employment at the nursery.
The ages of the victims and the full extent of their injuries have left a community reeling and raised serious questions about supervision and safeguarding at the elite childcare facility.
Awaiting sentence
As Lecka awaits her sentencing next month, parents of her victims are left to deal with the psychological impact on their children and their own feelings of guilt and anger.
The case has sent shockwaves through the childcare sector and left many parents questioning how such sustained abuse could occur at a prestigious nursery charging premium fees.
Lecka faces a substantial prison sentence when she returns to Kingston Crown Court on September 26, with the judge’s decision to remand her in custody indicating the seriousness with which the court views her crimes.
