A 45-year-old nursery worker in the United Kingdom is due to be sentenced after admitting to dozens of child sexual abuse offences committed over several years. The case has sparked fresh debate about child safety in nurseries, with the government now considering making CCTV cameras mandatory in childcare centres.
Vincent Chan pleaded guilty to 56 offences, including abusing four girls aged three and four at a nursery in north London between 2022 and 2024. He is set to be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court in London.
Prosecutors said Chan filmed himself carrying out some of the abuse during naptime at the nursery, where he had worked for seven years before being suspended in 2024. He also admitted to downloading thousands of indecent images of children.
Investigations revealed that Chan’s offending stretched back more than a decade. Between 2007 and 2017, while working at a school in north London, he filmed up young girls’ skirts and recorded sexual acts in classrooms. He also admitted to taking indecent images of children in 2024 and 2025, after he had left both the school and the nursery.
Police described him as a “dangerous and predatory individual” who deliberately sought positions of trust that gave him access to young children.
“The scale of his offending is shocking,” said Detective Lewis Basford of the Metropolitan Police. “Chan’s history shows that he targeted roles involving close contact with young girls, which allowed him to abuse his position for years.”
The abuse took place at Bright Horizons nursery, which has since closed. Following Chan’s guilty plea in January, families of the victims said they were “sickened” by the crimes and raised serious concerns about how safeguarding systems failed.
Law firm Leigh Day, representing the families, said around 50 families have joined legal action against the nursery provider. They allege that concerns were not properly addressed and that stronger protective measures should have been in place.
The case comes amid growing alarm over similar incidents in UK childcare settings. Just days ago, another nursery worker, Nathan Bennett, was convicted in Bristol of multiple sexual offences against five boys aged two and three. He was caught after a nursery manager spotted suspicious behaviour on CCTV and alerted police.
In response to these cases, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government is consulting on whether CCTV should be compulsory in nurseries across the country.
“These are harrowing cases for everyone,” Starmer told Parliament. “The safety of children is paramount, and we are acting to ensure they are protected.”
Child protection advocates say the case highlights the need for stricter background checks, stronger monitoring systems, and better safeguarding procedures in early years settings.
Chan now faces a lengthy prison sentence, as families and authorities alike call for reforms to ensure such crimes cannot happen again.
