Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - A nursery worker faces years behind bars after he filmed himself s3xually abusing young children in his care.
Vincent Chan, 45, worked at a since-closed branch of Bright
Horizons in West Hampstead, north-west London, for nearly seven years before he
was unmasked as a p@edophile.
He was first arrested in June 2024, after a member of staff
reported that he had callously filmed a child falling asleep in their food and
set it to music, before showing the clip to a colleague. Chan was initially
held on suspicion of neglect and released on bail, losing his job at the
nursery, which has since closed.
Detectives seized dozens of digital devices from his home in
Finchley and they discovered “substantial amounts” of indecent images and
videos of children – some of which depicted the most severe abuse.
Chan, wearing a grey tracksuit and glasses, spoke quietly to
confirm his identity and enter guilty pleas to all 26 charges in front of the
families of some of his victims who were present at Wood Green Crown Court
today, December 3.
He looked at the floor as the charges were read out, as a
woman in the public gallery cried.
Chan, a British national, admitted five counts of s3xual
assault of a child by penetration and four counts of s3xual assault of a child
by touching. He also admitted 11 counts of taking indecent photographs or
pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or
pseudo-photographs of a child.
Addressing Chan, Judge David Aaronberg KC said: “As you well
know, you have pleaded guilty to matters which are going to result in a
custodial sentence of many years.”
Families of children identified in the videos Chan made are
receiving specialist support.
Solicitors Leigh Day, representing some of them, said they
are “still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were
subjected to despicable abuse”.
They added: "We trust the judge to pass the strongest
sentence to fit the crimes Vincent Chan has committed against young children,
innocent victims who could not fight back.
"We feel that Bright Horizons has failed us and we want
answers. How was someone like Vincent Chan employed? Why did safeguarding
systems fail completely?
"And how were such horrific crimes against children
able to continue for so long without the staff responsible for safeguarding at
Bright Horizons nursery acting?
“We are concerned that failures in management and
supervision at Bright Horizons allowed this abuse to go undetected, and we are
committed to securing accountability for our children.”
A spokesperson for the nursery said: "We are shocked
and appalled by this individual’s horrific crimes.
"Our thoughts are first and foremost with the children
and families affected, and we are committed to offering support to them during
this incredibly difficult time.
"Our organization’s mission is to protect and nurture
young children. We employ over 8,500 experienced colleagues in our nurseries
who work tirelessly and with dedication every day to look after the children in
our care.
“This individual’s actions represent not only a violation of
the victims, but also a profound betrayal of the trust placed in him by
families and colleagues.”
They said the company has extensive safeguarding practices
in place, including rigorous vetting and DBS criminal records checks.
The spokesperson added: "Whilst this individual’s
actions came to light after a colleague raised concerns and followed our
whistle-blowing procedures to report him, we fully accept that the evidence
shows the individual was able to commit these crimes despite our safeguarding
measures.
"In light of this, we have commissioned an external
expert in this field to undertake a full review of our safeguarding
practices.
“We have and will continue to co-operate fully and
transparently with the police investigation. We also understand this case will
be the subject of a child safeguarding practice review (CSPR), and we are
committed to supporting this, ensuring the lessons can be taken across the
sector.”
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the Met’s
investigation, said: "Child s3xual abuse is one of the most horrific
crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated
and predatory pattern of abuse.
"He infiltrated environments that should have been safe
havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community
to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.
"Our investigation remains ongoing, and we are continuing to review
digital devices and assess Chan’s conduct across all relevant settings.
"We recognise the member of staff who raised their concerns, as
without that first report of child cruelty Chan’s abuse could have continued
unchecked, putting countless more children at risk.
“These appalling offences have caused deep shock and distress. We thank
the community for its continued cooperation and reaffirm our commitment to
supporting victims and their families.”
Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, NSPCC Assistant Director for London and the South
East, said: "We are shocked and horrified by the nature and scale of the
child s3xual abuse that has come to light through this police investigation.
"Our thoughts are with all the children, families, and communities
that have been impacted by Chan’s appalling breach of trust.
"The effects of child s3xual abuse can be devastating for
victims and their families, so part of our response must be to offer hope and
healing. Alongside the local safeguarding partnerships, our first priority is
to ensure that anyone directly impacted or worried about their child has the
fastest possible access to the help and support they need.
"A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up – 0800 028 0828 – and our
child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary
action to ensure the right support is put in place for every family.
“We are working with a network of specialist child sexual abuse services
to provide therapeutic support for any child or parent who needs it.”
Chan, of Stanhope Avenue in Finchley, will be sentenced on January 23,
2026.
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