A mother has expressed her shock and dismay after discovering that a nursery teacher she had raised concerns about turned out to be a depraved paedophile.

Nathan Bennett, aged 30, was labeled a “predatory” paedophile when he was sentenced for sexually assaulting and raping young children under his care at Partou’s Kings Street nursery in Bristol. The devastated mother disclosed that she learned about Bennett’s heinous crimes through the news rather than from the nursery where her child attended.

During the trial, it was revealed that Bennett’s despicable actions were exposed through CCTV footage showing him inappropriately touching a child after concerns were raised by both staff and parents.

The mother, who chose to stay anonymous, mentioned that she had previously alerted the nursery about her suspicions a month before Bennett’s arrest. She recounted an incident where she witnessed Bennett kissing a boy on the face and another instance where he was seen hugging a little boy on his lap while touching his leg. Despite reporting these incidents, Bennett was reinstated by the nursery after a brief suspension.

Bennett was apprehended by the Avon and Somerset Police on February 26, 2025, and later sentenced to 30 years in prison on March 16 of the same year. He was found guilty of multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, and assault by penetration involving children as young as two years old.

The mother expressed deep regret over leaving her child in Bennett’s care and revealed the difficult conversation she had with her child following the incident. She also shared her concerns about the nursery’s handling of the situation and the distressing impact it had on the families involved.

The trial highlighted Bennett’s concerning behavior, including sitting children on his lap for extended periods, wearing damaged clothing, and displaying possessiveness towards certain children and their parents. The nursery was subsequently shut down by Ofsted in December 2025.

The Leigh Day law firm is representing the mother and 11 other families affected by the case. In a statement released after Bennett’s sentencing, the families emphasized their shattered trust in the nursery and the failure to address previous warnings about Bennett’s behavior.

Bristol City Council responded to inquiries stating that they had provided guidance to the nursery based on the information available at the time. They clarified that decisions regarding staff suspension were the employer’s responsibility and assured that their processes were in line with statutory requirements.

The Mirror has reached out to Bristol City Council for further comments.