A mother has expressed her shock and dismay upon discovering that the nursery teacher she had raised concerns about was, in fact, a dangerous pedophile. Nathan Bennett, 30, was labeled a predatory pedophile after being convicted of raping and sexually abusing young children under his care at the Partou’s Kings Street nursery in Bristol. The devastated mother disclosed that she learned about Bennett’s heinous crimes through the news and not from the nursery where she had dropped off her child on the day of his arrest.
During the trial, it was revealed that Bennett’s appalling behavior was captured on CCTV, showing him inappropriately touching a child after concerns were reported by both staff and parents. The mother, who chose to remain anonymous, had previously raised alarm about Bennett’s actions to the nursery a month before his arrest, citing an incident where she witnessed him kissing a boy on the face.
The mother recounted a second incident where she observed Bennett hugging a little boy on his lap while touching the child’s leg. Despite Bennett being suspended, the nursery allegedly reinstated him five days later, claiming that the incident did not warrant further action. Bennett was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police on February 26, 2025, and subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison for multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration.
Expressing regret over leaving her child in Bennett’s care, the mother acknowledged the difficulty of discussing the incident with her two-year-old. The trial also revealed disturbing details about Bennett’s behavior, including sitting children on his lap for extended periods, wearing torn trousers, and displaying possessiveness over certain children and their parents. The nursery was shut down by Ofsted in December 2025.
The mother is part of a group of 12 families represented by the Leigh Day law firm, who released a statement expressing betrayal and disappointment in the nursery’s failure to ensure the safety of their children. Bristol City Council responded, stating that they had provided guidance to the nursery manager in response to parental concerns but clarified that decisions regarding staff suspension were the employer’s responsibility. The Mirror has reached out to Bristol City Council for further comments.
