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A man who successfully passed background checks to work at a London nursery went on to sexually abuse toddlers in his care, including during nap times.
Vincent Chan, 45, employed at a north London branch of the Bright Horizons nursery chain, admitted on Wednesday to 26 offences committed between 2022 and 2024. The charges include assaults on four young girls, as well as possession of more than 25,000 indecent images of children.
Chan, from Finchley in north London, also recorded some of the abuse using nursery iPads.
Authorities will conduct a review to determine whether proper safeguarding procedures were observed. Some parents say the nursery ignored complaints previously made about Chan’s behaviour and are now considering legal action.
Chan was responsible for a classroom of children, and the abuse was carried out in broad daylight, surrounded by other staff and children. Commander Hayley Sewart noted that his duties—feeding, dressing, cleaning and engaging with the children—required a high level of trust and safeguarding.
The nursery location has since been permanently closed.
Police are now reviewing material from more than 60 seized digital devices to assess whether additional offences occurred.
Chan’s charges include five counts of sexual assault by penetration on children aged two to four, four other sexual assaults, 11 counts of taking indecent images, and six counts of creating indecent images.
He has been remanded into custody and will be sentenced at a later date.
Police say Chan had passed advanced vetting checks, previously worked in a school, and had no prior criminal history.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the inquiry, described Chan’s crimes as systematic and predatory, adding that he deliberately inserted himself into trusted environments to target vulnerable children. He said investigations were continuing and that Chan’s conduct would be reviewed across all relevant settings.
Chan’s abuse was uncovered by chance in 2024 after concerns were raised that he had filmed mocking videos of children in his care. He was arrested in June 2024 and suspended.
By September 2024, 69 devices—including phones, laptops, memory cards and 15 nursery iPads—had been submitted for forensic analysis. Evidence of abuse was not uncovered until September 2025, and he was charged on 9 September 2025.
Basford also acknowledged the staff member who first reported concerns, saying their action prevented Chan from continuing to offend undetected.
About 700 families whose children attended the nursery between 2017 and 2024 have been contacted.
Police believe they have identified all children directly abused by Chan, but said many parents will suffer enduring uncertainty over whether their child was harmed.
A statement from affected families, represented by Leigh Day solicitors, expressed devastation and gratitude that Chan’s admission spared them the details that a full trial would have revealed. They urged the court to impose the highest possible punishment and thanked the Metropolitan police for their continuing efforts.
A dedicated NSPCC support line has been made available at 0808 800 5000.
Bright Horizons has been approached for comment.
