Polish Nursery Worker Convicted of Sadistic Baby Assaults Faces Imminent Deportation
A Polish national who carried out a campaign of sadistic violence against defenceless babies at a Montessori nursery is set to be deported back to her home country, having served only a few months of an eight-year prison sentence. Roksana Lecka, aged 22, was found guilty of multiple counts of child cruelty for assaults on infants as young as ten months old during her employment at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, southwest London.
Details of the Disturbing Assaults
Lecka’s campaign of terror involved punching, kicking, throwing, and pinching the children in her care. She confessed to seven counts of child cruelty, including specific incidents of kicking a boy in the face and punching a girl in the side. Although she denied 17 other similar charges, jurors convicted her of 14 counts related to her six-month tenure at the nursery.
Shockingly, it was revealed that Lecka had also abused infants at a second nursery. Her actions only came to light after she was sent home from Riverside Nursery for pinching multiple children. During the trial at Kingston Crown Court, Lecka attempted to justify her behaviour by claiming she was sleep deprived from smoking cannabis all night with her boyfriend.
In a statement to the court, she said, “I can’t remember the things I was doing because I was smoking cannabis that was affecting my memory.” Additionally, she described herself as “addicted” to vaping and admitted she would become “moody” if unable to use her vape device during work hours.
Investigation and Court Proceedings
Devastated parents first began reporting unexplained injuries on their children in March 2024. However, nursery managers did not initially identify Lecka as the culprit, allowing her to continue caring for toddlers under two until her arrest on June 28, 2024.
Detectives meticulously reviewed over 300 hours of CCTV footage within just ten days, which laid bare the full scale of Lecka’s violence. The footage showed her vaping in the darkness of a baby sleeping room, inches from sleeping infants, and committing acts such as kicking a boy in the face and punching a girl in the side.
During police interviews, Lecka appeared visibly bored and emotionless, often playing with her hair and repeatedly responding with “no comment” to questions. She showed little reaction even when shown pictures of the injuries she had inflicted. Detective Inspector Sian Hutchings noted that Lecka’s lack of explanation and remorse only added to the parents’ distress, stating, “She’s never shown any remorse or any empathy throughout the trial or the investigation.”
Sentencing and Deportation Order
Sentencing Lecka, Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC described her conduct as properly characterised as sadistic. The judge detailed how Lecka would pinch, slap, punch, smack, and kick the children, often toppling them headfirst into cots and causing bruising and red marks. Judge Plaschkes emphasised that Lecka should be barred from ever working with children or vulnerable people again.
It is understood that Lecka is scheduled for deportation to Poland on Thursday, February 5. Upon her arrival, Polish officials will determine any further probation or jail time. A Home Office spokesperson reinforced the UK’s stance, saying, “We will not allow foreign criminals and illegal migrants to exploit our laws. All Foreign National Offenders who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity.”
Impact on Families and Safeguarding Concerns
Parents of the victims expressed overwhelming guilt for sending their infants to Riverside Nursery. One father, who works in safeguarding, stated, “I find the fact that Roksana slipped through the net and was allowed to work with children absolutely criminal.” His wife believed that if Lecka had not been caught, she could have gone on to seriously injure or even kill a child.
The court was told that there were no initial safeguarding issues when Lecka was hired, highlighting potential gaps in vetting processes. The case has raised serious questions about childcare safety and the monitoring of staff in early years settings.
As Lecka prepares for deportation, the families affected continue to grapple with the trauma, while authorities stress their commitment to removing foreign criminals from the UK to protect public safety.
