A former nursery worker from North London has pleaded guilty to a further 30 serious sexual offences, expanding the shocking scale of his criminal activities. Vincent Chan, aged 45 and residing on Stanhope Avenue in Finchley, made his first court appearance on these new charges at Highbury Magistrates’ Court.
Details of the New Charges
Mr Chan admitted to a total of 30 new charges, which include 12 counts of taking and making indecent images of children, one count of sexual assault, 11 counts of voyeurism, and six counts of outraging public decency. These offences relate to 16 victims, with 10 of them being children at the time of the incidents. Authorities are continuing their sensitive efforts to identify some of the victims who remain unknown.
Previous Convictions and Sentencing
This latest guilty plea follows Chan's previous admission to 26 charges related to other child sexual offences. He is scheduled to be sentenced for all 56 charges on Thursday, February 12, at Wood Green Crown Court, where the full extent of his crimes will be addressed.
Investigation and Police Response
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who has led the investigation, described Chan as a "dangerous and predatory individual" whose offending is both abhorrent and shocking. Basford emphasised that Chan has historically sought positions of trust involving contact with young girls, enabling him to commit these crimes unchecked for an extended period.
The Metropolitan Police investigation, which led to Chan's arrest on June 11, 2024, uncovered hundreds of pictures and videos depicting child sexual offences on his phone. Analysis of his 69 personal devices revealed a significant amount of material, indicating offending that predates his earlier guilty pleas.
Pattern of Offending
Chan worked at another educational setting in North London from 2007 until 2017, where he secretly filmed on the estate to capture upskirting images of children. He also recorded videos of himself participating in sexual acts while alone at the location. Additionally, he placed covert cameras around his own home to capture private acts, such as individuals getting changed, and recorded himself sexually assaulting a woman while she slept at an address in Finchley.
Community and Support
The police have thanked the community for their cooperation throughout the investigation and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting victims and their families. They are working closely with the NSPCC to ensure that every affected family receives the necessary help and support.
Chan was already in custody when this latest offending was discovered. He was initially charged with 15 further counts of child sexual offending on Friday, January 16, and another 15 counts yesterday, Thursday, January 29.
Reporting and Helpline Information
Anyone with concerns or information related to this case is encouraged to contact the dedicated NSPCC helpline at 0800 028 0828 for specialist support. Reports can also be made to the Metropolitan Police by emailing OpLanark@met.police.uk or calling 101 from within the UK, quoting CAD3697/1DEC.
