A nursery worker has pleaded guilty to 26 sexual offences against children. Vincent Chan, 45, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday to enter his guilty plea for the charges relating to sexual offences against children, and the taking and making of indecent images of children.
These include 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 of a child. The images fall into categories A, B, and C, with A corresponding to the most severe abuse.
Chan pleaded guilty to offences against children. (Image: Met Police)
Chan spoke quietly in court to confirm his identity and enter guilty pleas to all 26 charges in front of the families of some of his victims.
Wearing a grey tracksuit and glasses, he looked at the floor as the charges were read out, as a woman in the public gallery cried.
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.”
Reacting to the guilty pleas, Helen Reddy, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Vincent Chan abused his position whilst working at a nursery to commit these horrific crimes against very young girls.
“It was a heinous breach of trust by someone working in a caring profession and in what should have been a safe place for children.
“The evidence against him was compelling, and the nature and number of offences the CPS charged him with reflect the seriousness of his offending.
The moment Vincent Chan was arrested by police officers (Image: METROPOLITAN POLICE)
“The CPS will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to pursue perpetrators of child sexual abuse and secure justice for victims.
“I encourage the reporting of child sexual abuse to the police, as you are not alone and there is always help available.”
Footage shared by the Metropolitan Police captured body-worn footage of Chan’s arrest following what the force called “one of the most harrowing and complex child sexual abuse investigations” it’s ever undertaken.
Chan was apprehended outside his home on Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, by three officers as he appeared to be preparing for a bike ride. He will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on January 23.
Families of the children identified in the material are receiving specialist support, the Met said. All families whose children attended the nursery Chan worked at can call a dedicated NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
