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A nursery worker has pleaded guilty in one of the most harrowing and complex child sexual abuse investigations undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service.
The conviction, which includes 26 charges, marks a chilling chapter in the fight against crimes targeting society’s most vulnerable.
Vincent Chan, 45 (28.10.80), a British national of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday, 3 December for a pre-trial hearing. Chan pleaded guilty to 26 offences relating to sexual assault offences against children and the taking and making of indecent images of children.
The offences include five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. The latter offences involved images across categories A, B, and C, with category A depicting the most severe abuse.
Families of the identified children have been contacted directly and are receiving specialist support. A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up for all families whose children attended the nursery to discuss concerns and access support.
Chan will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 23 January.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the Met’s investigation, said:
“Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse. He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.
“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we are continuing to review digital devices and assess Chan’s conduct across all relevant settings. We recognise the member of staff who raised their concerns, as without that first report of child cruelty Chan’s abuse could have continued unchecked, putting countless more children at risk.
“These appalling offences have caused deep shock and distress. We thank the community for its continued cooperation and reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims and their families. If you have any concerns, please contact the dedicated NSPCC helpline on 0800 028 0828 for specialist support. We are working closely with the NSPCC to ensure every family affected receives the help they need.”
Leigh Day, representing some of the families who attended the nursery at the time of the offending, have issued the following statement:
"As parents we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at the nursery.
“In admitting the charges, we are spared the prospect of hearing Vincent Chan's crimes at the nursery described in graphic detail in a trial. We trust the judge to pass the strongest sentence to fit the crimes Vincent Chan has committed against young children, innocent victims who could not fight back.
“We would like to thank the Metropolitan Police Service for their assistance and support so far, but appreciate that their investigations in this case are not yet complete.”
Chan’s guilty plea comes after a determined investigation from Met officers following his arrest on 11 June 2024.
The initial arrest on suspicion of child cruelty was prompted by a member of staff at the nursery, who reported that Chan had been capturing disturbing footage of children at the nursery he worked at in West Hampstead. Chan had been using a nursery-issued iPad to record the footage, which he then distorted by adding superimpositions and music for comedic purposes. He also shared stills with his colleagues.
At the point of arrest, officers seized 25 digital devices from his home and three from the nursery. Forensic teams trawled through the devices, where they uncovered substantial amounts of indecent images and videos of children, including evidence of contact sexual offences against children.
The videos depicted sexual contact offending taking place within the nursery, at times when Chan was responsible for minding the children.
Following this discovery, officers worked quickly to rearrest Chan on Monday, 8 September and formally charged him with the child sexual offences the following day.
A further 26 digital devices were seized from his home and 15 more from the nursery. In total, 69 devices were retrieved and analysed by Met officers as part of this investigation. Officers continue to investigate and review the materials, noting no further evidence of contact offending against children has been identified.
In light of the complex nature and scale of Chan’s offending, Met officers have worked sensitively to identify the victims. At this time, four young children have been identified as victims of contact-related sexual offending or being the subject of indecent images.
Their parents or guardians have been visited and informed by specially trained local officers and provided with a contact. Following these difficult conversations, families were also given direct access to specialist support services and local community partners for long-term, trauma-informed support.
Helen Reddy, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:
“Vincent Chan abused his position whilst working at a nursery to commit these horrific crimes against very young girls.
“It was a heinous breach of trust by someone working in a caring profession and in what should have been a safe place for children.
“The evidence against him was compelling and the nature and number of offences the CPS charged him with reflects the seriousness of his offending.
“The CPS will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to pursue perpetrators of child sexual abuse and secure justice for victims.
“I encourage the reporting of child sexual abuse to the police as you are not alone and there is always help available.”
Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, NSPCC Assistant Director for London and the South East, said:
“We are shocked and horrified by the nature and scale of the child sexual abuse that has come to light through this police investigation. Our thoughts are with all the children, families, and communities that have been impacted by Chan’s appalling breach of trust.
“The effects of child sexual abuse can be devastating for victims and their families, so part of our response must be to offer hope and healing. Alongside the local safeguarding partnerships, our first priority is to ensure that anyone directly impacted or worried about their child has the fastest possible access to the help and support they need. A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up - 0800 028 0828 - and our child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary action to ensure the right support is put in place for every family.
“We are working with a network of specialist child sexual abuse services to provide therapeutic support for any child or parent who needs it. At the NSPCC, our ‘Letting the Future In’ service provides children and parents with the space, help and resources to process what has happened to them, and take vital steps towards recovery.
“In addition, our professional learning services are bringing together a range of resources for early years, education and community organisations to promote safe practice, and our schools service is working with education settings to help children know who they can turn to so they can be protected and supported. We encourage any setting which feels it could benefit from this support to reach out to us.”