A man has admitted to a series of horrific sexual assaults on toddlers at a north London nursery, where he was employed after passing advanced vetting checks.
Predatory Abuse in a Place of Safety
Vincent Chan, 45, from Finchley, pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday to 26 serious child sex offences. The crimes took place between 2022 and 2024 while he worked at a branch of the Bright Horizons nursery group. His victims were four young girls, aged between two and four years old.
The court heard that Chan sexually assaulted the children, with some attacks occurring during nap time and in broad daylight while the nursery was full of other staff and children. He used the nursery's own iPads to film some of these assaults.
Vast Scale of Depravity Uncovered
Chan's guilty plea covers a shocking range of crimes. These include five counts of sexual assault by penetration, four other sexual assaults, 11 charges of taking indecent photographs, and six counts of making indecent images of children. The latter charges relate to a collection of more than 25,000 indecent images found in his possession.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police seized over 60 digital devices, including phones, laptops, memory sticks, and 15 nursery iPads. They are still examining this material to rule out the possibility of dozens more offences. Chan was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
System Failures and Ongoing Trauma
The case has raised serious questions about safeguarding. Police confirmed Chan had no criminal record and passed vetting to get the job, having previously worked in a school. Some parents have stated that complaints about Chan's behaviour, made before his crimes were discovered, were ignored by the nursery. The branch has since closed permanently.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, leading the investigation, described Chan's actions as "a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse." He praised a staff member whose 2024 report about Chan mocking children led to the initial safeguarding concern and eventual arrest. "Without that first report, Chan's abuse could have continued unchecked," Basford stated.
The Met has contacted around 700 parents of children who attended the nursery between 2017 and 2024. While police believe they have identified all direct victims, Commander Hayley Sewart acknowledged that for parents, "uncertainty will remain as to whether their child may have been harmed."
Families represented by Leigh Day solicitors said they were "still trying to process the sickening discovery" and trusted the judge to pass the strongest possible sentence. A dedicated NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) has been established for affected families. A review into the safeguarding procedures at the nursery is underway.
