Vincent Chan, 45, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Wood Green Crown Court for a series of sexual offenses against young children, including multiple counts of sexual assault by penetration. He was as well given an extended eight-year license period.
Chan pleaded guilty to 26 charges relating to sexual assault offenses against children and the taking and making of indecent images of children, according to a December 3, 2025, statement from the Metropolitan Police. The offenses included eleven counts of taking indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, some categorized as the most severe abuse.
The investigation revealed Chan abused at least four girls, aged between three and four years ancient, while employed at the Bright Horizons nursery in north London. The abuse occurred during nap times between 2022 and 2024, during which time Chan filmed himself committing the offenses. Police seized electronic devices containing over one million indecent images and videos of children, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Judge John Dodd KC described Chan’s behavior as “utterly wicked, perverse and depraved” during the sentencing hearing. He emphasized that the victims were “too young to protect themselves or to raise the alarm” and that the responsibility for the crimes rested solely with Chan, according to reporting from the BBC and The Guardian.
Chan worked at Bright Horizons for seven years before being suspended in 2024 after a colleague discovered videos he had recorded depicting children in degrading situations. Following the sentencing, Bright Horizons stated that “keeping children safe is our most important responsibility” and acknowledged that Chan had broken that trust. The nursery has since closed.
The Metropolitan Police have contacted 700 parents whose children attended the nursery, as well as 500 parents from a primary school where Chan previously worked, informing them that their children may have had contact with him. A dedicated NSPCC helpline was established to provide support to families and professionals. All identified victims, or their guardians, have been visited by specialist officers and offered access to psychological and community support services.
Chan’s career in education began in 2006, with various roles in schools and nurseries across north London. Analysis of the seized devices revealed a pattern of offending spanning almost two decades, including instances of sexual assault, voyeurism, “upskirting,” and the creation of child pornography, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The Camden Council, the local authority where the nursery was located, has announced an independent review of child protection practices at the nursery and other settings in the area. Families represented by the law firm Leigh Day stated that “every family deserves the truth, and every child who suffered must spot justice done.”
