A CORSTON man who worked in childcare has been convicted of 21 sexual offences against children.
Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court on February 9, Nathan Bennett, 30, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape of a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two other sexual assault charges.
He had previously admitted 13 offences, including sexual assault of a child aged under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Bennett was remanded for sentence at the same court on Monday March 16.
The trial was told that Bennett committed the offences against five children he met at the Bristol nursery where he worked. His crimes came to light when his manager reviewed CCTV, after concerns were raised by parents and other staff.
After suspicious behaviour was seen on the footage, Bennett was sent home and a report made to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
The LADO contacted police on February 26 last year. Bennett was arrested and questioned the same day and later released on bail, with conditions including not to be unsupervised with any person under 18.
Following a six-month investigation by specialist officers, Bennett was initially charged with eight offences in August 2025, when he was remanded into custody by the court. He was later charged with a further 14 offences.
During the trial, Virginia Cornwall, prosecuting, said: “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, that a person entrusted to be responsible for your child, care for your child and nurture your child at times when you are unable to provide that parental care, abuses their position and sexually abuses that child.
“The defendant is a paedophile. He has admitted his sexual interest in pre-school age toddlers by his partial guilty pleas to some charges in this case – the less serious charges.”
The investigating officer, DC Bethany Cook, said: “Nathan Bennett was trusted to care for very young children, but instead committed sexual offences against them at his place of work.
“This investigation involving such young children was deeply challenging and distressing for all concerned, and I would like to commend the support and strength shown by those families.
“This case has caused significant anxiety for other families whose children attended the nursery during the time these offences were committed and, when appropriate, we’ve tried to keep them informed.”
“We understand that if your children have been in contact with Nathan Bennett, you may have questions and concerns and you can contact our child protection team through our website.”
The child protection team can be contacted at https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/forms/cob
Nursery worker guilty of child sex offences
