Nursery Worker's Early Deportation Under Government Scheme Sparks Outrage Among Victims' Families
Roksana Lecka, a Polish national convicted of 21 counts of child cruelty while employed at two London nurseries in 2023 and 2024, is set to be deported to Poland this Thursday. This move comes less than five months into her eight-year prison sentence, leaving families of the young victims distressed and questioning the efficacy of the justice system.
Details of the Conviction and Sentencing
In June of last year, a jury at Kingston upon Thames Crown Court found Lecka guilty of multiple acts of violence against children aged between 18 months and two years. The court heard evidence that she had smacked, punched, pinched, and kicked the toddlers during her tenure at the nurseries. Sentencing her in September, Judge Plaschkes KC described her conduct as "sadistic" and characterised the acts as "gratuitous violence." She received an eight-year prison term for her crimes.
Families' Frustration Over Early Deportation
Despite the substantial sentence, victims' families were recently informed that Lecka will be deported under the government's early removal scheme for foreign offenders. This policy does not require criminals to serve the remainder of their sentence in their home country, meaning Lecka will walk free upon arrival in Poland. The father of one abused toddler expressed profound disappointment, stating that after the relief of sentencing, learning of the deportation felt "upsetting and frustrating." He highlighted concerns that the extensive public resources spent on the investigation and trial now seem futile, as the actual sentence will not be served.
Beyond personal anguish, families fear for the safety of other children in Poland. They noted that Lecka was previously identified as a flight risk and a danger to the public during pre-trial custody. The father lamented, "All we have as victims is the verdict and the notion of a sentence. Justice has in this case sadly not been done."
Political and Legal Criticism of the Early Removal Scheme
Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham, has been contacted by affected families who are "horrified" by the deportation. Wilson emphasised that the families seek justice and are worried Lecka may harm children abroad. She acknowledged prison overcrowding issues but argued that the policy allows serious offenders to evade proper punishment, which she deemed "pretty unfair."
After parliamentary inquiries, it was revealed that due to time served on remand before trial, Lecka became eligible for deportation on 7 October 2025, just weeks after her sentencing. She will be barred indefinitely from re-entering the UK. Recent adjustments to the early removal scheme have reduced the required portion of a sentence from 50% to 30%, with upcoming changes potentially allowing deportation immediately after sentencing.
Expert Analysis on the Implications
Sarah Singer, a professor of refugee law at the University of London, criticised the scheme as prioritising removals over criminal justice. She suggested it is driven by political motives and the current prison overcrowding crisis, rather than a commitment to justice. Singer remarked, "They're simply trying to offload the problem. It doesn't actually address the issue." This case highlights ongoing debates about balancing immigration control with victim rights and the integrity of the judicial process.
