A former nursery worker in London has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of abusing 21 babies in her care. Roxanna Lea, 22, was described as “sadistic” during the trial, where harrowing evidence revealed her shocking acts of cruelty captured on surveillance footage. The case has raised serious concerns about child safety in daycare settings.
The disturbing revelations began in June 2024, when a colleague at Riverside Nursery reported Lea’s unusual behavior. Initially sent home for pinching several infants, her actions prompted an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, which uncovered a pattern of severe abuse at two nurseries between October 2023 and June 2024. Despite no concerns being raised during her application process at Twickenham Nursery, parents soon began reporting unusual injuries and bruises on their children.
Detectives reviewed over 300 hours of CCTV footage, revealing Lea engaging in heinous acts, including pinching, scratching, and even kicking a baby in the face. The footage also showed her blowing vape smoke near cribs, exposing infants to potentially harmful substances. Other disturbing incidents included pushing children aggressively and covering a toddler’s mouth as he cried.
When confronted by police, Lea exhibited a chilling lack of remorse. During her interrogation, she repeatedly responded with “no comment” to inquiries about her actions, displaying a striking indifference to the suffering she inflicted on vulnerable children. Her demeanor led investigators to question whether she derived a sadistic pleasure from her actions.
Lea was arrested on multiple counts of child cruelty and bodily harm, and after initially pleading not guilty, she changed her plea to guilty on seven counts just days before her trial began. She cited cannabis use as a reason for her behavior, claiming it altered her personality, but many have dismissed this explanation as insufficient to justify her actions.
At her sentencing, parents expressed their outrage, describing Lea as a significant threat to society and voicing their regret for trusting her with their children. One parent noted the impact of the abuse on their child’s emotional well-being, highlighting the deep betrayal felt by families who entrusted their little ones to her care.
Dr. Daniel Bober, a forensic psychiatrist, reflected on Lea’s behavior, suggesting that her actions may stem from a lack of empathy and a desire for control. He emphasized that the systemic failures at the nurseries allowed her to operate undetected for an extended period, raising questions about the adequacy of background checks and monitoring of childcare staff.
Ultimately, Kingston Crown Court sentenced Roxanna Lea to eight years in prison, prohibiting her from working with children in the future. As she begins her sentence, the public is left to grapple with the unsettling reality of how such a betrayal of trust could occur in a place meant to nurture and protect the most vulnerable members of society. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the essential need for vigilance and oversight in childcare environments to ensure the safety of children.