A 45-year-old former nursery worker has admitted 26 sexual offences against children in a case described by police as one of their most harrowing and complex child-abuse investigations in recent years. The offences span several years at a now-closed nursery in north London, during which the man exploited the trust placed in him by families to inflict abuse on vulnerable children under his care.

Vincent Chan, of Finchley, worked at the north London nursery between 2017 and 2024, and has now pleaded guilty to a total of 26 sexual offences involving children. The charges comprise five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs, with images across categories A, B, and C. Category A represents the most serious class of abuse images.

The abuse came to light after a staff member at the nursery raised concerns when Chan filmed a child falling asleep over their food using a nursery-issued device, later adding music for what the staff member called “comedic purposes,” and sharing the video with colleagues. That report triggered an investigation by the Metropolitan Police (the Met).

Officers first arrested Chan in June 2024 on suspicion of neglect and seized 25 digital devices from his home and three from the nursery. Chan was released on bail but lost his job. Three months later, forensic analysis of the devices was completed in July 2025, revealing a large number of indecent images and videos of children, as well as evidence of contact sexual offences.

Following the discovery, Chan was re-arrested in September this year. Authorities seized a further 26 devices from his home and 15 from the nursery, a now-closed branch of Bright Horizons in West Hampstead.

The investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, described Chan’s offences as “a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse.” He said Chan infiltrated “environments that should have been safe havens for children,” exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to target the most vulnerable.

Police have identified four children as victims so far. Families affected have been contacted and are receiving specialist support, while the NSPCC has established a helpline for the roughly 700 families of children who attended the nursery during Chan’s employment.

The victims’ families, speaking through legal representatives from Leigh Day, said:

“As parents, we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at the nursery. 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.”

In response to the guilty plea, Bright Horizons issued a statement acknowledging the “profound betrayal of the trust placed in him by families and colleagues.” The company said it had safeguarding practices including vetting and DBS criminal record checks in place, but has now commissioned an external review after Chan was able to commit the crimes despite these measures.

Chan is due to be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on 23 January 2026.