Daniel SandfordUK correspondent
Metropolitan Police
Vincent Chan first came to attention for filming the children in his care
A nursery worker has admitted sexually abusing young children in his care in north London.
Vincent Chan, 45, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to 26 charges including sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault by touching and making indecent images depicting the most severe category of child sex abuse.
The investigation into Chan followed a tip-off from a whistleblower and became one of the most “harrowing and complex” cases undertaken by the Metropolitan Police, the force said.
Chan, of Stanhope Avenue in Finchley, will be sentenced on 23 January.
Warning: This article contains distressing details
Judge David Aaronberg KC told the defendant: “Mr Chan, you have pleaded guilty to matters which are going to result in a custodial sentence of many years.”
Chan first came to attention for filming children at Bright Horizons nursery, Finchley Road, West Hampstead. The nursery branch has since closed.
When police started to investigate, they found what detectives called “deeply disturbing material” on Chan’s devices and iPads seized from the nursery.
They later found the video evidence of sexual abuse of children at the nursery, some of which had been filmed on nursery iPads.
Julia Quenzler
Chan was warned by the judge to expect a custodial sentence “of many years”
Det Supt Lewis Basford, who led the Met Police’s investigation, said the offences had caused “deep shock and distress”.
Chan had been advance vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service, having previously worked as a karate club instructor and in a school.
Chan, who was born and raised in the UK and is of Chinese heritage, took on a number of roles at the nursery including art specialist, room leader and nursery nurse. He was entrusted with the care of children aged between two and four.
Moment Vincent Chan arrested by Met Police officers
Family members of many of the victims sat in the dock as charges were read out, many of them in tears.
Following Chan’s guilty pleas, the victims’ parents made a joint statement through their solicitor.
“As parents we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse… We feel that Bright Horizons has failed us, and we want answers.
“How was someone like Vincent Chan employed? And how were such horrific crimes against children able to continue for so long without the staff responsible for safeguarding at Bright Horizons nursery acting?
“We are concerned that failures in management and supervision at Bright Horizons allowed this abuse to go undetected, and we are committed to securing accountability for our children.”
Bright Horizons said it was “shocked and appalled” by Chan’s crimes, adding that its “thoughts are first and foremost with the children and families affected”.
A spokesperson for the chain said: “Whilst this individual’s actions came to light after a colleague raised concerns and followed our whistleblowing procedures to report him, we fully accept that the evidence shows the individual was able to commit these crimes despite our safeguarding measures.
“In light of this, we have commissioned an external expert in this field to undertake a full review of our safeguarding practices.”
Watch: Victims’ parents want answers from nursery, says solicitor
Helen Reddy, prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Chan’s actions were “a heinous breach of trust” by someone working in a caring profession in what should have been a safe place for children.
She added: “The evidence against him was compelling and the nature and number of offences the CPS charged him with reflects the seriousness of his offending.”
