A former nursery worker convicted of abusing 21 infants while under the influence of drugs in the UK has been released in Poland after serving only 14 months behind bars, Polish authorities confirmed. Roksana Lecka, 23, was sentenced to eight years in prison last September for mistreating children as young as ten months old at two nurseries in west London. She was deported to Poland in February as part of the Early Removal Scheme but was not detained upon her return due to a lack of formal cooperation procedures between the two countries.
Polish officials stated that Lecka was not properly registered in criminal databases or international alert systems, making it impossible for border guards to apprehend her. Despite her arrival in Warsaw on February 5, her current location remains unknown. The brutal acts of violence, including repeatedly kicking a toddler in the face during a period of “gratuitous” and “sadistic” abuse, occurred between 2023 and 2024.
Lecka, prohibited from re-entering the UK, was convicted of seven counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and sentenced to eight years in prison. During sentencing, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC described how Lecka inflicted pain on the children through physical violence, causing them distress and suffering. Parents and staff noticed injuries on the children in her care, leading to the discovery of incriminating CCTV footage.
The victims’ families expressed dismay at Lecka’s early release, feeling that justice had not been served. Concerns were raised about the lack of deterrence for foreign offenders and the need for more transparency regarding Lecka’s release terms. Despite assurances that Polish authorities were informed of her convictions, there are worries about monitoring her activities and preventing her from working with children in the future.
Authorities emphasized the severity of Lecka’s crimes and the government’s commitment to deporting foreign offenders swiftly. However, the lack of oversight in Poland has raised alarm about the potential risks posed by her freedom. The Ministry of Justice reiterated its condemnation of Lecka’s actions and expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.
