Latest news with #Lecka
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Nursery worker accused of hurting babies 'got fed up if she couldn't vape'
A Montessori nursery worker accused of deliberately hurting dozens of toddlers in her care says she was addicted to weed and vapes at the time and 'would get fed up' if she could not smoke, a court has heard. Roksana Lecka, 22, is said to have 'badly harmed' 23 children while employed at the £1,900-a-month Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, south-west London, between January and June last year. She is also accused of assaulting or ill-treating another infant at the Little Munchkins Montessori Nursery in Hounslow, west London, in October 2023. During her trial at Kingston Crown Court, jurors have seen CCTV footage of Lecka appearing to pinch children, allegedly leaving one 'writhing' in pain and drawing gasps from parents watching from the public gallery. Lecka got the job at Riverside, which follows the Montessori method of teaching, involving children's 'natural interests' instead of formal practices, in January last year. Jurors have heard there were no concerns raised when she applied, complete with a reference from another nursery as well as the families of two children she had looked after. It was a colleague who eventually raised a alarm, claiming to have seen Lecka assaulting a boy by pinching his legs. Jurors have heard a review of CCTV footage also showed her pinching his nose, body, wrist and mouth. The court has heard evidence that Lecka was not her 'normal bubbly self' towards the end of June, MailOnline reports. She told jurors from the witness box she was addicted to cannabis and vapes and would regularly stay up until the early hours with her boyfriend. Giving evidence, Lecka said she would 'smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend' at the time. She said: 'I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke, I would get agitated and fed up. 'I couldn't keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up.' Of one alleged assault, in which she is said to have 'smacked' a young girl while vaping, she said: 'I had two to three tokes, that would be my normal amount. I did not smack her. I put my arm around her really quickly. 'I do not accept smacking her in the face. I think she's distressed and tearful because she's just woken up from a nap.' But in her closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC asked them to consider whether the footage showed 'innocuous or innocent squeezes', like Lecka claims, or 'pinches' and 'rough treatment'. 'If she was tired, grumpy and feeling put upon by others, is what we see her taking it out on children by hurting them?' she added. 'There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka – as we put it – keeps going back for more.' Arlette Piercy, defending, told jurors in her closing address that there were times when Lecka 'could simply not cope – she had not slept enough, she had been burning the candle at both ends, she was under too much pressure and she cracked'. 'That you may think is the picture here, rather than the prosecution seeks to make of a young woman in a sense… rotten to the core, who set out on a sad sustained campaign of abuse,' she added. Lecka denies 16 counts of child cruelty. The court has heard she has admitted seven similar offences. The trial continues. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: This is how much more single people pay to live alone in London MORE: Homes evacuated and man arrested in Llanelli after 'bomb found near Post Office' MORE: Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after boy, 4, found dead inside Maidenhead home
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Cannabis-smoking nursery worker who ‘punched, grabbed & pinched 23 crying babies' moans ‘I'd moody if I couldn't vape'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NURSERY worker who allegedly punched, grabbed and pinched 23 babies would get "moody" if she couldn't vape at work, a court heard. Roksana Lecka allegedly left the children with scratches to their faces and necks and pinch marks on their inner legs and stomachs. 4 Roksana Lecka is accused of attacking 23 babies at a nursery Credit: Social Media Collect 4 She told a court she would be moody if she could not vape at work Credit: Social Media Collect The 22-year-old is accused of "badly harming" the tots over a six month period while working at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, South West London. The nursery, which charges up to £1,900 a month to look after children aged between 18 months and two years, follows the Montessori method of teaching. Lecka told Kingston Crown Court how she would "smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend", Mail Online reports. She said: "At that time I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. "I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke I would get agitated and fed up. I couldn't keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up. 'It would be a couple of puffs and then I'd put it away… I would put it in my bra." She also told the court how she was "so tired" at the time and was not getting any sleep. Lecka claimed she was "addicted" to her boyfriend so was "over-prioritising" him. Her lawyer also claimed she was "worn out, had bad period pains, was short of energy, she was not her normally bubbly self". But prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told jurors that smoking cannabis and not being able to vape were "excuses" for the alleged offences. She added: "It is clear her actions are deliberate or at the very last careless, but on most occasions we say deliberate. "There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka - as we put it - keeps going back for more." Jurors have been told 23 of the children were harmed at the nursery, while a 24th count of child cruelty refers to an offence that allegedly took place before Lecka started. The court also heard how there were no apparent safeguarding issues when Lecka was hired. But last summer, CCTV of the baby room appeared to show the worker pinch a child - leaving them with red marks, it was said. In footage played to the court, Lecka can also apparently be seen pinching the legs, back and under arm of a girl who can be seen crying. Further footage allegedly showed her pinching the side of a girl's face and grabbing her hair. Lecka can be seen vaping in another clip before she took a baby from a crib and pinched and punched her side, jurors heard. One alleged victim was sat at a table when Lecka repeatedly pinched her - causing the girl to cry, it was said. She then allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled her hair so her head made contact with the table. The court heard Lecka was "looking around" at other members of staff to see who was "watching when these assaults occur". One colleague reported seeing the worker assault a boy by pinching his legs - leading the headteacher to check CCTV. Jurors were told the footage showed Lecka also pinching his nose, body, wrist, and mouth. Police trawled through a month's worth of CCTV and discovered 23 babies had been "badly treated in some way", it was said. Lecka was arrested on July 5 last year and said in a prepared statement: "I deny assaulting any children at the Riverside Nursery…I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. "We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused." Lecka has admitted two charges of child cruelty but denies 21 further offences. The trial continues. 4 Lecka has denied 21 child cruelty offences Credit: Social Media Collect
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Cannabis-smoking nursery worker who ‘punched, grabbed & pinched 23 crying babies' moans ‘I'd moody if I couldn't vape'
A NURSERY worker who allegedly punched, grabbed and pinched 23 babies would get "moody" if she couldn't vape at work, a court heard. Roksana Lecka allegedly left the children with scratches to their faces and necks and pinch marks on their inner legs and stomachs. 4 Roksana Lecka is accused of attacking 23 babies at a nursery Credit: Social Media Collect 4 She told a court she would be moody if she could not vape at work Credit: Social Media Collect The 22-year-old is accused of "badly harming" the tots over a six month period while working at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, South West London. The nursery, which charges up to £1,900 a month to look after children aged between 18 months and two years, follows the Montessori method of teaching. Lecka told Kingston Crown Court how she would "smoke cannabis quite regularly with my boyfriend", She said: "At that time I was really addicted to vapes, I would smoke two little crystal disposables a day. Read more news "I was vaping in nursery. Because if I did not smoke I would get agitated and fed up. I couldn't keep asking to go to the toilet. Any opportunity I would take. I would be really moody and fed up. 'It would be a couple of puffs and then I'd put it away… I would put it in my bra." She also told the court how she was "so tired" at the time and was not getting any sleep . Lecka claimed she was "addicted" to her boyfriend so was "over-prioritising" him. Most read in The Sun Her lawyer also claimed she was "worn out, had bad period pains, was short of energy , she was not her normally bubbly self". But prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC told jurors that smoking cannabis and not being able to vape were "excuses" for the alleged offences. She added: "It is clear her actions are deliberate or at the very last careless, but on most occasions we say deliberate. "There are, of course, some clips where Ms Lecka - as we put it - keeps going back for more." Jurors have been told 23 of the children were harmed at the nursery, while a 24th count of child cruelty refers to an offence that allegedly took place before Lecka started. The court also heard how there were no apparent safeguarding issues when Lecka was hired. But last summer, CCTV of the baby room appeared to show the worker pinch a child - leaving them with red marks, it was said. In footage played to the court, Lecka can also apparently be seen pinching the legs, back and under arm of a girl who can be seen crying. Further footage allegedly showed her pinching the side of a girl's face and grabbing her hair. Lecka can be seen vaping in another clip before she took a baby from a crib and pinched and punched her side, jurors heard. One alleged victim was sat at a table when Lecka repeatedly pinched her - causing the girl to cry, it was said. She then allegedly grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled her hair so her head made contact with the table. The court heard Lecka was "looking around" at other members of staff to see who was "watching when these assaults occur". One colleague reported seeing the worker assault a boy by pinching his legs - leading the headteacher to check CCTV. Jurors were told the footage showed Lecka also pinching his nose, body, wrist, and mouth. Police trawled through a month's worth of CCTV and discovered 23 babies had been "badly treated in some way", it was said. Lecka was arrested on July 5 last year and said in a prepared statement: "I deny assaulting any children at the Riverside Nursery…I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. "We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused." Lecka has admitted two charges of child cruelty but denies 21 further offences. The trial continues. 4 Lecka has denied 21 child cruelty offences Credit: Social Media Collect 4 The offences are said to have taken place at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham Credit: Google
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Daily Record
Nursery worker 'seen hurting 23 babies' in alleged attacks caught 'on CCTV'
Roksana Lecka, 22, was employed as a nursery worker when she allegedly pinched, punched and pulled the hair of the babies. A nursery worker allegedly harmed infants by punching, grabbing and pinching them in attacks filmed on CCTV, a court has heard. Roksana Lecka, 22, is accused of leaving scratches on the faces of the babies, along with pinch marks on their legs and stomachs, while working at the £1,900-a-month Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, south west London, reports the Mirror. The 23 kids were hurt under the 22-year-old's care at the nursery - which looks after youngsters aged between 10 months and two years, a jury was told. A further charge of child cruelty involves an alleged incident from before she was employed there. The jury was told that at the time she was hired there was no evidence to suggest she was a safeguarding risk. The woman appeared to pinch one of the children in CCTV footage shown which allegedly left the youngster with red marks as a result. Lecka is allegedly seen pinching a child in a number of places across their body, in clips played in court. Another piece of footage appeared to show her yanking a child's hair and pinching their face. Another clip appeared to show Lecka vaping before she removed a baby from the crib and punched them in the side, Kingston Crown Court was told. With the same child, she allegedly grabbed them by the arm and pulled their hair resulting in them hitting their head on the table. Prosecutors say Lecka was seen looking around the room to see if other staff members were able to witness the behaviour. It wasn't until a colleague reported they had seen her pinching a child's leg that the headteacher checked CCTV footage. The footage allegedly showed her pinching the child on the nose, body, wrist and mouth. Lecka was arrested on July 5 last year. She gave investigators a prepared statement which read: "I deny assaulting any children at the Riverside Nursery…I went into work that day and had a normal day. There were no accidents where any child seemed hurt. We have procedures for the handling of the children, which I adhered to. I am unaware how any injury to these children were caused." Lecka faces child cruelty charges. She has admitted to two charges and denies 21 further offences that allegedly took place between January and June 2024. The trial continues. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online
Metro
09-05-2025
- Metro
Nursery worker ‘filmed pinching, punching and grabbing 23 babies'
A childcare worker was allegedly caught on CCTV pinching, punching and grabbing babies at the £1,900-a-month nursery where she worked. Rosana Lecka, 22, is accused of assaulting or ill-treating 23 infants over a six-month period at the Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, south-west London. Prosecutors said the footage showed Lecka pinching two children, causingone to cry, and grabbing one by the back of the neck, according to court proceedings reported by the BBC. The court heard some children were found with scratches on their face and neck, while some had pinch marks on their inner legs and stomach. Jurors were told that on one occasion, a colleague allegedly saw Lecka pinching one boy's legs, prompting the headteacher to review CCTV, which showed the 22-year-old also pinching the child's nose, wrist and mouth, according to Sky News. Riverside Nursery uses the Montessori method of teaching, in which children are encouraged to spend more time on activities that interest them. More Trending The court heard no safeguarding issues were raised when Lecka applied for the job, with references from another nursery and two families of children she had babysat. But prosecutors said she was sent home one day after acting 'almost as if she was in a daze'. Lecka has admitted two charges and denies 21 further offences. She also faces another charge of cruelty at another location. The trial continues. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Why was the Sycamore Gap tree cut down? MORE: Inside £880,000,000 'murder cruise ship' where a grandad died on a stag do MORE: Man who strangled girlfriend on night she planned to leave him jailed for 35 years
