Key Points
- Vincent Chan, 45, of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, pleaded guilty on 3 December 2025 at Wood Green Crown Court to 26 charges, including five counts of sexual assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent images, and six counts of making indecent images of children aged two to four.
- Offences occurred primarily at Bright Horizons nursery on Finchley Road, West Hampstead, Camden, between August 2022 and March 2024 (19 months), using nursery-issued iPads to film abuse, initially discovered via mocking videos reported in May 2024.
- Case began with a colleague’s complaint to Camden Council in May 2024 about Chan filming and sharing mocking videos of children; he was arrested for child cruelty in June 2024, with 25 devices seized, leading to re-arrest on 8 September 2025 after finding “deeply disturbing material”.
- Metropolitan Police describe it as one of their most harrowing and complex child sexual abuse investigations; ongoing probe into 69 devices and Chan’s 17-year history with children, including prior primary school and karate instructor roles.
- Four identified victims (girls as young as two); letters sent to ~700 families; nursery closed; Chan employed since 2017, promoted to nursery nurse.
- Families, via Leigh Day lawyers Alison Millar and Catriona Rubens, demand accountability from Bright Horizons for safeguarding failures; civil claim planned.
- Child Safeguarding Practice Review launched by Camden Safeguarding Partnership (rapid review from 6 November 2025); Bright Horizons commissions external safeguarding review.
- Sentencing set for 23 January 2026; Judge David Aaronberg KC noted “deeply disturbing material” and lengthy prison term ahead.
- Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford called it a “calculated and predatory pattern of abuse” exploiting safe environments.
- Bright Horizons: Individual acted alone; supports inquiries, invested in training.
Vincent Chan, a 45-year-old nursery worker at Bright Horizons on Finchley Road in West Hampstead, has pleaded guilty to 26 child sexual abuse offences, including assaults on children as young as two filmed using workplace iPads. The case, triggered by a colleague’s May 2024 complaint over mocking videos, escalated into one of the Metropolitan Police’s most harrowing investigations, with Chan admitting crimes spanning 19 months at the now-closed nursery. Families of the victims expressed betrayal and demanded answers on safeguarding lapses, as reported across multiple outlets today.
What Triggered the Investigation into Vincent Chan?
A single whistleblower complaint ignited the probe. As detailed by journalists at The Londoner, in May 2024, a colleague reported Vincent Chan to Camden Council and the nursery for using work iPads to film mocking videos of children, adding graphics and music, then sharing stills with colleagues. Chan was arrested on suspicion of child cruelty in June 2024; police seized 25 digital devices from his home on Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, and workplace, suspending him immediately.
The investigation deepened upon forensic analysis. According to BBC News, officers uncovered “deeply disturbing material,” including video recordings of sexual abuse filmed on nursery iPads meant for documenting child progress. Mirror reporting confirms Chan, a former primary school worker and karate instructor with 17 years in child-facing roles, admitted a “calculated and predatory pattern of abuse,” targeting four girls aged two to four while they slept between August 2022 and June 2024.
Metropolitan Police delayed charging until 8 September 2025—14 months post-initial arrest—after trawling devices revealed contact offences, as noted in The Londoner’s briefing attendance. Det Supt Lewis Basford, leading the probe, stated ahead of the hearing:
“Child sexual 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”.
What Charges Did Vincent Chan Plead Guilty To?
Chan entered guilty pleas to all 26 counts at Wood Green Crown Court on 3 December 2025. As reported by Leigh Day’s statement, these comprised five counts of sexual assault by penetration, four of sexual assault by touching, 11 of taking indecent images (including Category A, the most severe), and six of making indecent images—23 against nursery children.
BBC coverage specifies offences related to children aged two to four, with many documented on nursery grounds using issued devices. Mirror journalists noted five penetration assaults among the horrific charges. In court, wearing grey prison clothes, Chan muttered “guilty” to each, head bowed, before a packed room of families and media; Judge David Aaronberg KC remarked: “Mr. Chan, your guilty pleas will lead to a lengthy prison entence,” describing evidence as “deeply disturbing material”.
Leigh Day’s Alison Millar, head of abuse claims, said post-hearing:
“This is an absolutely shocking case: even as an experienced Abuse Claims lawyer, it is difficult to hear the descriptions of Chan’s sexual offences against such very young, defenceless children, as well as wider concerns about maltreatment of the children in his care”.
Chan faces sentencing on 23 January 2026.
How Did Vincent Chan’s Background Enable the Abuse?
Chan joined Bright Horizons in 2017 at age late thirties, passing all checks with no criminal record, and rose to nursery nurse handling cleaning and clothing for two- to four-year-olds. The Londoner reports he worked seven years undetected, committing assaults on premises.
His history spans 17 years with children, per Mirror, including primary school and karate instruction, now under review. Police confiscated 69 devices total; investigation ongoing for more victims. Reuters and Telegraph highlight filming on development iPads.
What Do Families Say About the Bright Horizons Failures?
Victims’ families issued a statement via Leigh Day’s Alison Millar and Catriona Rubens:
“As parents we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at Bright Horizons nursery. In admitting the charges, we are spared the prospect of hearing Vincent Chan’s crimes at Bright Horizons nursery described in graphic detail in a trial. 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”.
They continued:
“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”.
BBC notes family members’ emotional presence in court. Leigh Day represents them in a civil claim; Millar urged police to review non-charging on child neglect and complete device reviews.
Approximately 700 families received police letters; identified victims get specialist support.
What Is the Response from Police and Bright Horizons?
Det Supt Lewis Basford stated crimes caused “deep shock and distress”; probe into prior roles continues. Questions arise over Met’s device processing delay post-June 2024 arrest, as officers initially focused on cruelty.
Bright Horizons, per spokesperson in The Londoner:
“What happened at our former nursery was an appalling breach of trust by one individual and it is devastating for the families affected. This individual acted alone, and his actions in no way represent the work that our trained and dedicated staff do in looking after thousands of children every day”.
They note whistleblower used procedures, affirm rigorous vetting, and have commissioned an external safeguarding review, supporting the Child Safeguarding Practice Review by Camden (rapid review from 6 November 2025). Nursery closed; firm operates 92 London sites.
What Safeguarding Issues Plague Bright Horizons?
The Londoner analysed Ofsted records for Bright Horizons’ 92 London nurseries: 54 (59%) had failing grades or serious incidents since 2019, exceeding rivals Busy Bees (47%) and Bright Stars (42%). Issues included poor accident records, supervision lapses, incomplete checks; one North London site shut two weeks in 2023 over safety.
Past cases: 2019 Fulham assault conviction; 2022 Edinburgh fine (£800,000) after toddler death from unchoking supervision; 2019 Essex site with entry risks. Spokesperson:
“We operate in one of the most heavily regulated sectors… significantly invested in staff and training”;
all poor-rated now improved.
