A 22-year-old nursery employee has been sentenced to eight years in prison for numerous instances of child cruelty involving the mistreatment of 21 infants.

Roksana Lecka, hailing from Hounslow in west London, pleaded guilty to seven charges of cruelty against individuals under the age of 16 and was found guilty during a trial concerning an additional 14 counts of her “gratuitous” and “sadistic” behavior at two different nurseries.

Her offenses came to light in June of the previous year when she was dismissed from her position for pinching several children at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, located in south-west London.

Parents of the affected children shared their profound feelings of heartbreak, guilt, and mistrust through victim impact statements presented at Kingston Crown Court.

Judge Sarah Plaschkes KC addressed the accused, stating, “You perpetrated numerous acts of needless violence.”

“You pinched, slapped, pummeled, and kicked them. You tugged at their ears, hair, and toes. You flipped children headfirst into cribs, causing bruises and lasting red marks.

“As you carried out these cruel acts, you would glance at other staff members to ensure they weren’t observing your behavior.

“Often, the child would be quietly engrossed in their own world when you deliberately chose to inflict pain, prompting them to cry, arch their backs, attempt to escape, or writhe in distress.”

Lecka inflicted pinches on several children numerous times throughout a single day, resulting in their tears and attempts to flinch away from her grasp, as stated by the Crown Prosecution Service.

In one instance, she kicked a young boy in the face multiple times. She was also observed pushing infants headfirst over cots and clamping a toddler’s mouth shut when they began to cry.

Authorities reported that her abusive actions took place at two nurseries between October 2023 and June 2024—one charge involved Little Munchkins in Hounslow, while the majority pertained to Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, which has since been shut down.

Several parents took the opportunity to speak in court on Friday, sharing the effects of Lecka’s abuse with an attentive audience.

One mother spoke directly to Lecka, stating, “These children were utterly innocent and defenseless.

“They were unable to communicate, unable to protect themselves, and incapable of conveying to us as parents that something was wrong.

“They were completely vulnerable, and Roksana exploited that.”

Another mother referenced the CCTV recordings, remarking, “This clearly demonstrated the helplessness of all the children and how appalling it was for Roksana to target such young infants.”

A different mother expressed, “I believe Roksana poses a significant danger to society.

“It is astonishing that she was allowed to go unnoticed among us until her arrest. I think we can all agree that only the most despicable individuals would harm defenseless babies.”

Parents recounted the guilt they feel for entrusting their children to Lecka’s care, with one mother—whose son was kicked in the face—saying, “We weren’t there to protect them.”

The court heard that one family has relocated away from London entirely, while others have experienced relationship breakdowns as a result of Lecka’s actions.

Arlette Piercy, representing Lecka, stated that her client had shown remorse and mentioned her previously good character and young age as mitigating factors.

The court was informed that Lecka had penned a letter expressing her regret, stating that she had contemplated her actions, wished to apologize to the parents, and claimed that cannabis had changed her personality.

Ms. Piercy further related that Lecka had been assaulted while in custody, describing her time in prison as “extremely challenging,” and noted that she had spent time in a wing for vulnerable inmates.