ROKSANA LECKA TWICKENHAM NURSERY CRUELTY SCANDAL SHOCKS COMMUNITY

A disturbing case of child abuse has come to light involving Roksana Lecka, a nursery worker employed at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham. Over a period of six months, CCTV footage captured her engaging in severe acts of physical assault against 23 infants under her care, raising serious concerns about the safety and oversight at the facility.

Roksana Lecka, aged 22, has been accused of inflicting physical harm on vulnerable children by punching, pinching, and grabbing them. The footage reveals her causing visible injuries such as scratches and pinch marks on the children’s faces, necks, stomachs, and legs. Court proceedings have detailed the disturbing images captured on the surveillance videos, which show her pinching children’s faces, legs, and bodies, as well as grabbing a girl’s hair. In one particularly troubling clip, she is seen vaping before removing a baby from a crib and then pinching or punching her. Witnesses and jurors noted that Lecka appeared to look around during these incidents, seemingly checking to see if anyone was watching her actions, which included pinching a child's nose and other abusive behaviors.

The CCTV review, which spanned a month, uncovered these acts of cruelty, leading to her arrest on July 5 of the previous year. During her police statement, Lecka denied any assault, claiming she followed proper procedures and was unaware of how the injuries occurred. Despite her denial, she has admitted to two charges of child cruelty but continues to deny 21 other allegations. The ongoing trial is examining the full extent of her actions and her culpability.

Riverside Nursery, located in Twickenham, charges up to £1,900 per month and operates under the Montessori teaching philosophy. When she was initially hired, the court found no safeguarding issues, which makes the subsequent revelations even more alarming. The case has sparked widespread concern about the safety protocols and oversight at the nursery, which has since been closed following the allegations.

Legal proceedings have been extensive. Roksana Lecka, born on 13 October 2002, was charged with 24 counts of cruelty to a person under 16, contrary to Section 1(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. She pleaded guilty to seven of these counts, and the jury convicted her of 14 counts. She was found not guilty on three counts of child cruelty. Her sentencing is scheduled to take place at Kingston Crown Court on 26 September 2025. The case continues to draw attention to the importance of safeguarding children and the need for rigorous checks in childcare settings.