A nursery worker later jailed for abusing young girls was cleared by an investigation overseen by Camden council three years before his arrest.

Vincent Chan was jailed for 18 years in February after pleading guilty to 56 offences, including assault at a Bright Horizons nursery. Prosecutors called him a ‘prolific sexual predator’.

In 2021, a parent raised ‘significant concerns’ about Chan's conduct. Bright Horizons referred the matter to Camden council, which advised the nursery to investigate, the Guardian has revealed. Chan was moved to duties without child contact during the inquiry but was cleared to return to his role afterwards.

In 2022, he filmed himself abusing children at the nursery and was arrested in June 2024 after staff found videos of distressed children. Police later discovered tens of thousands of abuse images on his devices. The Metropolitan police are understood not to have received a referral in 2021. Camden has commissioned an independent safeguarding review, now expected in early 2027 after repeated delays.

The nursery closed in June 2025.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: ‘Children deserve the best care in a safe environment and the ongoing Independent Local Child Safeguarding Review into this case presents a pivotal opportunity to prevent abuse like this from happening again. Our participation in the Review is thorough, and we have disclosed all relevant documents and information.

‘We are ready to receive the Review's recommendations once it is published and take action. We are determined to make a real and tangible impact on safeguarding arrangements for the future.

‘As well as key organisations, the Review is currently engaging with parents, carers, family members and victims affected by this abuse, to hear from them about their experiences. We want families to get the answers they deserve, in full, through the outcome of the independent review, and this not to be pre-empted.

‘We will continue to support them while strengthening safeguarding across our community, as this vital work moves forward.’

A spokesperson for Bright Horizons said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the victims of Chan’s shocking crimes and their families. As the Camden local authority’s child safeguarding practice review is ongoing, we will not be able to comment without the express written authorisation of that committee as we do not wish to prejudice that process. We will respond as soon as we are able, once we have received the committee’s response.’