Evil nursery worker jailed for rape and sexual abuse of boys as young as 3

Thomas Waller, 18, has been detained at Guildford Crown Court for 10 years for rape and sexual abuse against boys as young as three at a nursery. He was convicted on October 31 of multiple horrific offences that took place in 2024, including rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and taking indecent images of children.

The "dangerous" teenage nursery worker has now been jailed for 10 years. Sentencing him, Judge Claire Harden-Frost said it was "heartbreaking" to see the boys' parents feeling responsible for what happened. The offending happened at a nursery, which cannot be named for legal reasons, in Surrey where Waller had been workking during the summer months.

Within just days of looking after the children Waller began to take advantage of his position to gain the trust of two young boys in his care before exploiting them.

Some of the teenagers responsibilities included taking children to the toilet and helping them get changed, Guildford Crown Court was told.

Waller was described by the mother of one of his victims as "a very dangerous individual". She told BBC South East at the time of his conviction: "That he can do this at such a young age and in such a calculated way, I find very frightening."

The mum said her toddler had told her he had been abused in a toilet at school. She said: "He told me, in three-year-old terms, that he'd been sexually assaulted at nursery by one of the staff, which was very shocking for me to hear.

"On hearing that, I stayed very calm and asked him some questions about what he was telling me to try to get him to repeat it, and I was really questioning him in different ways to see if his story would stay the same and consistent, which it did. In fact, he was adding more and more explanation of what happened."

She then told the nursery, which reported the matter to the police, leading to Waller's arrest that same evening.

The nursery where Waller raped and sexually abused children has said it took "immediate action" as soon as concerns were raised about the teenager.

The Surrey nursery say they "remain, deeply shocked, saddened and sorry" with their thoughts remaining with the children and families affected.

It said in a statement: "We were, and remain, deeply shocked, saddened and sorry to learn of the actions of a former member of our staff. The safety and wellbeing of the children in our care is, and always will be, our highest priority. As soon as concerns were raised, we took immediate action, contacting the police without delay, suspending the individual concerned, and fully co-operating with the investigation.

"Since then, we have carried out a full review and further strengthened our already robust safeguarding policies and staff training. We continue to work closely with the local authority and safeguarding professionals to ensure we uphold the very highest standards of care and protection for every child entrusted to us.

"Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the two children and their families affected. We have provided, and continue to provide, support to them, to our wider nursery community and to our staff. We are immensely grateful to all our parents and carers for their ongoing trust and support throughout this incredibly difficult and distressing time.

"Safeguarding and the wellbeing of our children have always been, and will always remain, our absolute priority."

Jonathan Hulley, Surrey County Council cabinet member for children, families and lifelong learning, said: "I am appalled by the crimes committed by Thomas Waller and extend my deepest sympathies to the children and families affected.

"As the local authority, we were informed by partners when these disclosures were first made about an individual working in a private nursery in Surrey.

"We immediately undertook our duties to support the actions of safeguarding partners, and of Ofsted as the regulatory body for early years settings.

"Our role has included co-ordinating information-sharing and actions between relevant bodies, as well as supporting the setting to implement actions identified for them by Ofsted.

"The wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people is our absolute priority.

"I would encourage anyone with concerns about someone who works with children and young people to contact the local authority designated officer."

Waller sat in the dock wearing a white polo shirt and black coat, and did not react when he found out his sentence.

The teen was found guilty of rape, two counts of causing or inciting sexual activity and taking indecent photos after a trial at Staines Youth Court earlier this year.

The judge sentenced him to 15 years at a young offender institution, of which he must serve 10 in detention and five on licence.