London Nursery Worker Sentenced to 18 Years for Decades of Sexual Abuse
Vincent Chan, a former nursery worker from Finchley in north London, has been jailed for 18 years at Wood Green Crown Court after pleading guilty to 56 charges related to the sexual abuse of young children and women. The judge, John Dodd KC, described Chan's actions as "utterly wicked, perverse and depraved", highlighting that he exploited vulnerable individuals who trusted him, including children too young to protect themselves or report the abuse.
Details of the Crimes and Impact on Victims
Chan's offending spanned nearly two decades, beginning in 2007 when he worked at a school where he engaged in upskirting of pupils. He later moved to a nursery, where he filmed himself abusing four young children at a since-closed branch of Bright Horizons in West Hampstead, north-west London. His crimes included:
- Physical sexual abuse of children in his care.
- Taking obscene photographs of children and creating manipulated images using software.
- Setting up cameras to secretly watch women changing or using toilets.
- Sexually assaulting a woman while she was asleep.
During the sentencing hearing, friends and relatives of the victims expressed profound trauma, with one parent stating, "As parents, we live with constant fear about how it may affect our child as she grows." The knowledge that Chan recorded the abuse compounded their distress, as victims, including a child too young to write her own statement, were left defenseless and fearful.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Chan's crimes came to light when he showed a colleague two disturbing videos, leading to his report to management and subsequent police involvement. Detectives arrested him on suspicion of child cruelty, seizing dozens of electronic devices. After cracking passwords, they discovered over 1 million images and videos of child abuse, reviewing 300 hours of material that resulted in more serious charges.
In December, Chan pleaded guilty to 26 charges, including sexual assault by penetration and making indecent images of children. In January, he admitted 30 additional charges, such as voyeurism and outraging public decency. The judge sentenced him to a total of 26 years, with 18 years to be served in prison and an extended licence of eight years. He will be eligible for parole after two-thirds of the custodial term, with concurrent sentences for the other charges.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Concerns
Police believe that over 600 pupils passed through the school during Chan's tenure, and due to the nature of the photographs, many victims may never be specifically identified. While authorities think they have recovered all devices related to child abuse, they fear more adult women may have been victimized without their knowledge or reports. Bright Horizons is now facing legal action from families affected by the abuse at the nursery.
A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been established for anyone impacted by Chan's offending, operating from 8am to 8pm on weekdays and 9am to 6pm on weekends at 0800 028 0828.
