A former nursery worker has been convicted of 21 counts of child cruelty after a harrowing campaign of abuse that included kicking a young boy in the face and vaping in front of a small baby. Roksana Lecka, 22, admitted to seven counts of cruelty and was found guilty of another 14 by a jury at Kingston Crown Court. The abuse took place at two separate nurseries in Twickenham and Hounslow between October 2023 and June 2024.

Lecka was caught on CCTV roughly handling children, causing them to cry, and vaping near a baby multiple times. The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation after concerns were raised by nursery staff in June 2024. Parents provided statements and evidence of injuries sustained by their children, including red marks, bruises, and scratches.

Lecka was arrested in July 2024 on suspicion of child cruelty offenses. During her interview, she refused to comment on the CCTV footage showing her actions. Detective Sergeant Geoff Boye described her behavior as "prolific" and detailed the various assaults she committed on the children in her care.

Lecka was initially charged with 12 counts of child cruelty, 12 counts of actual bodily harm, and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. This was later amended to 24 counts of child cruelty against 24 separate children. She was convicted of 21 counts and will be sentenced in September.

Despite multiple opportunities, Lecka never admitted to her offenses or provided any insight into her actions. Detective Inspector Sian Hutchings commended the families of the victims for their strength throughout the investigation and trial process.