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 individuals 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 organisations 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 individuals 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 individuals 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 Mets investigation, said: "Child s3xual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chans 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 Chans conduct across all relevant settings. "We recognise the member of staff who raised their concerns, as without that first report of child cruelty Chans 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 Chans 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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