NEWS: Paedophile admits sexually assaulting toddlers at nursery he worked at

A nursery worker who passed all required vetting checks has admitted carrying out a series of sexual assaults against toddlers in his care at a north London nursery.

Vincent Chan, 45, pleaded guilty to 26 offences involving four girls aged between two and four, committed between 2022 and 2024 at a branch of the Bright Horizons nursery chain. He also admitted charges linked to more than 25,000 indecent images of children.

Chan used nursery iPads to film some of the assaults, which took place during the school day while he was supervising a classroom full of children. Detectives seized 69 devices during the investigation, including iPads, phones and laptops, and continue to review footage to determine whether more victims are involved.

The offences came to light by chance in 2024, after Chan was reported for unrelated safeguarding concerns involving videos in which he mocked children. Subsequent digital examinations uncovered evidence of sexual abuse, leading to his charge on 9 September 2025.

The branch of the nursery where Chan worked has since closed. Police have contacted around 700 families whose children attended the setting between 2017 and 2024.

Det Supt Lewis Basford, who led the investigation, described Chan’s behaviour as “calculated and predatory”, adding that the case had caused profound distress among parents and staff.

Some families, represented by Leigh Day solicitors, said in a statement that they were “still trying to process the sickening discovery” and welcomed Chan’s guilty plea, which avoided the need for evidence to be heard in full at trial.

Chan previously worked in a school and had no criminal record, and police confirmed that he passed enhanced vetting before being employed at the nursery.

He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up for affected families on 0808 800 5000.