Nursery Worker Claims Nappy Check Amid Serious Child Abuse Allegations
A nursery worker accused of sexually abusing five toddlers has told a court he only placed his hand inside a child's trousers to check a nappy, not for any inappropriate purpose. Nathan Bennett, aged 30, was arrested after his manager at the nursery where he worked observed concerning behaviour on CCTV footage.
CCTV Footage Triggers Immediate Police Response
Bennett was immediately sent home from the nursery following the incident, with his manager promptly informing both the police and local authorities. Bristol Crown Court heard that the disturbing CCTV clip showed Bennett, who resides in Corston, Bath, with his hand inside the trousers of a child referred to as Child A for approximately 25 seconds.
In a subsequent interview with detectives after his arrest, Bennett explained that he had sat Child A on his lap to comfort the toddler, who had woken up from a nap feeling upset. He stated that the child had complained his "nappy hurt," prompting Bennett to check the pull-up nappy by placing his hand inside the trousers.
Defendant Denies Multiple Serious Charges
Nathan Bennett currently denies a total of 11 charges related to his employment at the nursery. These charges include:
- Two counts of raping a child under 13
- Four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
- Two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13
- Three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child
However, the court has heard that Bennett has previously pleaded guilty to 13 other charges involving five children aged between two and three years old. These admitted offences consist of eight charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, four charges of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Questionable Explanations Under Police Scrutiny
When questioned by detectives about why he didn't check the nappy from the outside, Bennett responded, "Because I couldn't unroll it from the outside." He insisted he did not believe his hand had touched Child A's penis, adding, "It would have been inadvertently if it did. Maybe inadvertently I might have touched it, I wasn't paying attention to that part, I am not sure because of the way he sat."
Regarding the 25-second duration shown on CCTV, Bennett told police, "I just didn't have the strength to pull it from the outside, I couldn't pull it properly from the outside, so I just went in a different way. It was just a daft decision at that point. I was feeling really icky and couldn't bring myself to get up at that point."
Defence Against Suspicious Behaviour Allegations
Bennett denied prosecution suggestions that the CCTV footage showed him looking around to check whether any staff members had observed him with his hand down Child A's trousers. When a detective asked if he considered it appropriate for his hand to remain in the child's trousers for that length of time, Bennett replied, "No. I was just trying to move it away and get some extra room to make it a bit more comfortable."
The defendant explicitly told police he does not have a sexual interest in children. When asked directly, "Did you join to be a nursery worker so that you could have access to children? In a sexual way?" Bennett responded with a simple, "No."
Nursery Closure and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The jury was informed that the nursery where these alleged incidents occurred has since closed following the launch of the police investigation. The trial continues at Bristol Crown Court, where Bennett maintains his innocence against the 11 charges he currently faces while having admitted to the 13 other offences involving young children.
