A man employed at a nursery in north London has confessed to a horrifying campaign of sexual abuse against very young children in his care, with some attacks captured on the nursery's own devices.
Predator Exploited Trust in Safe Haven
Vincent Chan, 45, from Finchley, entered guilty pleas 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 girls, all aged between two and four years old.
The court heard how Chan's offending occurred in broad daylight within a classroom, even as the nursery was busy with other children and staff. He exploited his position during routine activities, including nap times. Shockingly, he used iPads belonging to the nursery to film some of his sexual assaults.
Vetting Failure and Discovery of Abuse
Chan had passed advanced vetting procedures to secure his role and had previously worked in a school with no criminal record. His predatory actions were only uncovered by chance in 2024. He was initially reported for a safeguarding concern after making videos mocking children. This led to his arrest in June 2024 and suspension.
A major digital investigation was launched following his arrest. Police seized over 60 devices, including his phones, laptops, memory sticks, and 15 nursery iPads. The forensic examination of these items, completed in September 2025, revealed the full extent of his abuse, leading to charges on 9 September 2025.
The offences he admitted include:
- Five counts of sexual assault by penetration of a child aged two to four.
- Four counts of sexual assault.
- Eleven counts of taking indecent photographs of children.
- Six counts of making indecent images of children.
Chan also pleaded guilty to offences relating to more than 25,000 indecent images of children.
Ongoing Investigation and Parental Anguish
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, leading the investigation, stated the probe remains active as officers work to rule out further offences. "He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children," Basford said, describing Chan's actions as "calculated and predatory".
The nursery branch involved has now closed. The Metropolitan Police have contacted around 700 parents of children who attended from 2017 to 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."
Some parents, represented by Leigh Day solicitors, revealed that complaints about Chan's behaviour made before his arrest were ignored. They are now considering legal action against the nursery group. In a statement, the families said they were "still trying to process the sickening discovery" and trusted the judge to pass the strongest possible sentence.
A review is underway to establish whether safeguarding procedures were followed. A dedicated NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) has been set up for affected families. Vincent Chan has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
