A former coworker of Nathan Bennett, a convicted paedophile nursery worker, expressed concerns about his behavior with young children, claiming her warnings were dismissed. Bennett, 30, received a 30-year sentence for raping and assaulting five toddlers at Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol. Bessie Martin, a former nursery worker, reported feeling uneasy about Bennett’s interactions with children long before his arrest.
According to Martin, she observed Bennett holding children for extended periods and sitting them on his lap away from CCTV cameras, prompting her to raise concerns with management multiple times. Despite her efforts, her worries were allegedly disregarded, with management suggesting she was imagining things. Martin believes that if her concerns had been taken seriously and thorough CCTV checks had been conducted, the outcome could have been different.
After Martin submitted a whistleblowing report to senior management, Bennett was suspended, but later allowed to return to work. It was only after CCTV footage revealed inappropriate behavior that Bennett was suspended again and reported to authorities. Parents had also raised concerns about Bennett’s conduct prior to his arrest, but some of these were not conveyed to the appropriate authorities.
During Bennett’s trial, staff described his possessive behavior towards certain children and his inappropriate actions. Partou, the nursery chain, stated that they encourage staff to report concerns and have implemented measures to enhance safeguarding. Despite the closure of the King Street nursery, Partou continues to operate numerous sites across England.
Partou nurseries, following Bennett’s arrest, were found to have a higher rate of official notices for safeguarding issues compared to the national average. Partou emphasized that safeguarding is their top priority and that they are providing support to affected families. An independent review identified failures at the Bristol nursery, leading to some personnel changes.
Families affected by Bennett’s actions are seeking answers regarding the lapses in safeguarding at the nursery. A law firm representing these families expressed the need for accountability and a thorough investigation into how Bennett was allowed to harm children at the nursery.
