Vincent

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.

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.

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.

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.”

A spokesperson for Bright Horizons said: “We are shocked and appalled by this individual’s horrific crimes. Our thoughts are first and foremost with the children and families affected, and we are committed to offering support to them during this incredibly difficult time.”