A 45-year-old nursery worker, Vincent Chan, was discovered to have captured himself sexually abusing toddlers as young as two after he shared a video mocking the children with his colleagues. Chan, residing in Finchley, north London, confessed to a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse at Wood Green Crown Court.
Chan had been working at a nursery in north London for nearly seven years before his true nature as a pedophile was exposed. He is a British national who previously worked at a primary school starting in 2007 and also served as a karate instructor.
Following his initial arrest in June 2024, Chan’s devices were analyzed by the police in September 2024, and he was re-arrested in September of the following year on suspicion of sexual offenses. A total of 51 devices belonging to Chan were confiscated by the police, including 18 used at the nursery where he worked, which has since closed down.
Chan pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual assault of a child by penetration, sexual assault of a child by touching, taking indecent photographs of a child, and making indecent photographs of a child. Some of the images involved the most severe category of abuse. Families of the victims have been contacted and are receiving specialized support, with the NSPCC operating a helpline for families of all 700 children who attended the nursery during Chan’s employment between 2017 and 2024.
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford condemned Chan’s actions, describing them as a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse that violated the trust of families and the community. The police investigation is ongoing, focusing on reviewing digital devices to understand Chan’s conduct across all relevant settings.
The NSPCC helpline for families impacted by the case can be reached at 0800 028 0828. Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, NSPCC assistant director for London and the South East, expressed shock at the extent of the child sexual abuse uncovered in the investigation, emphasizing the importance of providing fast access to help and support for those affected.
Individuals wishing to report information about Chan can contact OpLanarkmet.police.uk or dial 101 within the UK, quoting the reference CAD3697/1DEC.