Nursery worker jailed for 18 years over decade-long campaign of abuse

A former nursery assistant has been sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by an extended licence period for a "wicked" and "depraved" series of sexual offences spanning nearly two decades.

Vincent Chan, 45, of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court for sentencing having previously entered guilty pleas to 56 charges, including sexual assault by penetration and the production of indecent images.

The court heard that Chan exploited his positions of trust in education settings between 2006 and 2024, including a school where he worked in IT support and a nursery in West Hampstead.

His Honour Judge John Dodd KC described the defendant’s actions as "utterly wicked, perverse and depraved," noting that he had targeted victims who were defenceless and too young to protect themselves.

The investigation was triggered in June 2024 when a colleague reported concerns regarding the unauthorised filming of children, leading to the seizure of 69 electronic devices.

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Forensic specialists discovered more than one million indecent images and videos, alongside 300 hours of footage documenting contact abuse and voyeurism.

Police identified that Chan had surreptitiously filmed children in his care and installed covert cameras to record women in private areas, such as toilets and changing rooms.

Further evidence established that the defendant had committed sexual assaults on victims while they were asleep, taking advantage of their total vulnerability.

The court received a collective victim impact statement from families who described a "permanent ache" and a "cruel violation" that had tainted the memories of their children's early years.

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