Trusted Worker Exposed as Predator
Nathan Bennett, 30, from Corston near Bath, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for a horrifying string of sexual offences against toddlers as young as two. The nursery worker preyed on five boys, aged two and three, at Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol. He must serve at least 24 years behind bars before being considered for release.
Shocking Abuse Caught on CCTV
Bennett started at the nursery in July 2024. Alarm bells rang in February 2025 when his manager reviewed CCTV footage after complaints from parents and staff. The footage showed Bennett placing his hands down a child’s trousers. He was suspended immediately and arrested by Avon and Somerset Police.
Colleagues Suspected Something Was Wrong
During his four-day trial, staff revealed they had noticed troubling behaviour long before the formal complaints. Bennett was said to have a “jealous attachment” to certain toddlers, often seating children on his lap for long periods and acting possessively. One nursery worker even noticed his trousers had holes in the crotch area – a blatant red flag.
“I got him to stop doing it,” said one boy’s mother, describing how her son demonstrated what Bennett had done. “He said it happened at nursery.”
Gross Abuse and Cold Denial
Bennett pleaded guilty to 13 offences relating to four of the victims and was convicted of eight more, including two counts of rape of a child under 13. In a police interview released after sentencing, he denied targeting children but admitted he found it “easier to be around children in a professional way.”
Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall called the case “every parent’s nightmare.” Investigating officer DC Bethany Cook praised the families’ courage and described the case as “deeply challenging and distressing.”
The nursery shut down in December 2025 following the scandal. Bennett will serve a minimum 24-year sentence before parole eligibility, followed by six years on licence.
