Amy Clarke
BBC London News

Earlier we reported that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson made a written statement to Parliament where she said mandatory CCTV in nurseries was being considered.

This horrific case is likely to mean early years providers, regulators and policymakers will face renewed pressure to demonstrate that protections for children are fit for purpose and we'll be watching to see what happens next.

Our live coverage is now coming to close but you can read more about what happened today here.

The NSPCC has set up a dedicated helpline for anyone affected by Chan's offending.

You can call 0800 028 0828 between 08:00 and 20:00 GMT, Monday to Friday, and 09:00 to 18:00 at weekends.

If you want to share information with the police, you can email the team at [email protected], or call 101 in the UK. Mention the reference CAD3697/1DEC.

If this story has had an impact on you, or you’d like to find further support, organisations offering help and guidance are listed on the BBC Action Line.

Amy Clarke
BBC London News

Sentencing has now concluded for Vincent Chan, and we’ve heard significant reaction, including from families of his victims who are pursuing legal action against the nursery.

Today’s hearing marked the end of a lengthy investigation and a case that has raised profound questions about safeguarding in early years settings.

At Wood Green Crown Court Judge John Dodd KC jailed Chan for 18 years, along with a further eight years on extended licence, for what he described as an “utterly wicked, perverse, and depraved” campaign of abuse spanning 15 years.

The 45‑year‑old targeted children as young as two years old while they were sleeping in his care at the Bright Horizons nursery on Finchley Road, West Hampstead.

A police investigation also revealed that Chan had taken upskirt videos of girls in class while working as a teaching assistant at a primary school in Barnet as well as amassing a collection of at least 26,000 indecent, including clips of youngsters being raped.

Making his sentencing remarks, Judge Dodd told him: “Every right thinking person hearing about your offending would feel revulsion and disbelief.

"You became a sexual predator and someone who clearly lost all sense of moral compass.”

Harry Low
BBC London News

We've also heard from councillor Richard Olszewski, leader of Camden Council, who says the sentencing "marks an important step in this distressing case".

He says: "While nothing can undo the harm that’s been caused, I hope this outcome brings some sense of justice to those who have suffered.

"No family should ever face such an unimaginable ordeal, and our thoughts are with the children and families whose lives have been so deeply affected."

Olszewski adds: “The independent review into this case is now under way and families will be at the heart of that process.

"From the beginning, we have been clear that their voices must guide this work as we learn how to prevent anything like this from ever happening again."

The nursery where Chan worked and carried out some of his abuse was in the north London borough.

Harry Low
BBC London News

Giving his reaction to the case, clinical psychologist Dr Hessel Willemsen says Chan's abuse will have caused "deep psychological scarring - not just on the children involved, but on other children who attended the nursery and their families".

He says: "When someone in a position of care abuses that trust, it can seriously disrupt a child’s sense of safety and stability at a very formative stage of development.

"The effects aren’t often visible straight away, but they can show up over time in anxiety, sleep problems and behavioural changes.”

Willemsen, who has more than 30 years’ experience in clinical practice, assessment and consultation, adds that Chan’s sentence "can’t undo what happened, but accountability and acknowledgement of what happened matters.

"The focus must now be on making sure the children, their families and Chan’s former colleagues are properly supported with specialist psychological help.

"Early, consistent support can make a significant difference in long-term outcomes.”

Following Chan's sentencing, Det Supt Lewis Basford, who was senior investigating officer for the case, gave a statement outside court.

Amy Clarke
BBC London News

In her BBC interview, the NSPCC's Kellie Ann Fitzgerald is also asked whether she felt Chan's sentence was long enough.

She replies: "I am grateful that Chan is behind bars and the offences against children have been prevented and children will be protected from him.”

Vincent Chan was sentenced to 18 years in jail with another eight years on extended licence for 56 offences including sexually abusing young children in his care

The judge said his sentence was reduced by a third due to his guilty plea.

Amy Clarke
BBC London News

In a further interview with BBC News, the NSPCC's assistance director for London and South East, Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, says: “I think how we can better protect children from people who seek opportunities to harm them is the question at the forefront of all our minds today.”

“I think it has to stay in our minds in the weeks, in the months, in the years to come to make sure that awareness observation supervision and the permission to challenge adult behaviours is lived and breathed in everyday practice in every setting.”

She asks why CCTV was not currently a standard in nurseries, a question which was also brought up in Prime Ministers Questions recently and which Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson made a written statement to Parliament about earlier.

She says she thinks it is an “important debate to be had” and was moved by the parents saying there was no record and lots of uncertainty about what their children experienced.

“We have to think about risks to children and CCTV is a deterrent and helps to monitor. My worry would be if CCTV footage was misused and exploited to create other forms of abuse.

“It’s an important debate to be had. I’m not sure have all of the answers to that yet,” she says.

Harry Low
BBC London News

We're hearing now from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, assistant director for London and South East, says: "Chan's terrible crimes shocked the country and will have been devastating for the children, families and communities in which he lived and worked.

"The families and individuals impacted by his appalling abuse are trying to piece their lives back together, and it is vital they have access to all the help they need to do this."

She adds: "With the right support, children who have been abused, and adults who were abused in childhood, can and do recover and go on to thrive."

A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up. You can call 0800 028 0828 between 08:00 and 20:00 GMT, Monday to Friday, and 09:00 to 18:00 at weekends.

Harry Low
BBC London News

Helen Reddy, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), says Vincent Chan "was and is a serious danger to women and girls".

She says: “He is a prolific sexual predator, and this sentence will ensure he cannot harm anyone.

“The evidence against him was overwhelming and I’m very relieved he admitted his guilt, so victims and their families didn’t have to sit through a trial.

“I’m grateful to them for supporting this case and encourage all victims of sexual abuse to go to the police.

“Victims will be listened to, and the CPS stands ready to consider charges regardless of how long ago they happened.”

Judge John Dodd KC earlier sentenced Chan to 18 years in jail, with another eight years on extended licence.

Harry Low
BBC London News

The school where Chan worked was in the London borough of Barnet and the local council's leader, Barry Rawlings, has been reacting to the sentence.

He says: “While no amount of jail time can undo the harm suffered by the victims and their families, I hope today’s sentence brings a degree of comfort.

“As a result of this horrific case, the Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership is carrying out safeguarding audits on early years providers in Barnet. This includes the use and monitoring of CCTV in these settings.

“We are also actively participating in the Operation Lanark safeguarding review which has been commissioned by the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership to see what further lessons can be learned.

“Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of the Barnet children, young people and families affected and we continue to offer them our support.

“The council is working with partners, including the NPSCC, to provide practical, emotional and safeguarding support to the families affected. We encourage anyone who has been affected to reach out and to know that support is here for you.”

The video live stream has now come to an end but we'll be bringing you more reaction as we get it here.

Harry Low
BBC London News

We're hearing from Camden Council where the nursery used by Chan to carry out many of his crimes was located.

A spokesperson says: “This is a highly distressing case and our thoughts are with the children and families whose lives have been so deeply affected.

“Camden Council is participating in the independent local child safeguarding practice review into the abuse at the former Bright Horizons nursery branch, and at settings within Barnet, designed to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.

"This review will seek to engage with parents, carers, family members and victims affected by this abuse, and hear from them about their experiences."

The spokesperson adds: "Hearing the voice of parents, carers and children is a vital part of any effective safeguarding system, and can help to prevent abuse in the future.

“We will continue to support parents, carers and their children, and strengthen safeguarding across our community as this vital work moves forward.”

Harry Low
BBC London News

We've just had a statement from the Bright Horizons nursery.

It says: “This is a distressing time for families and all those impacted by Vincent Chan’s horrific crimes and our thoughts are first and foremost with them.

"Keeping children safe is our most important responsibility. Vincent Chan broke that trust. His actions were depraved and devious and go against the kindness and care our dedicated professionals provide to children each day.

"Chan’s actions came to light because a staff member raised concerns and followed our internal escalation procedures.

"We then escalated externally to the local authority and Ofsted and worked with the police throughout their investigation. We are increasing awareness of the ways staff can escalate concerns so that they do so quickly and confidentially.

"We are committed to understanding what happened so that we can learn from this terrible episode."

Harry Low
BBC London News

In a statement issued by law firm Leigh Day, the families say they "welcome today’s outcome and are relieved that Vincent Chan is now behind bars for his sickening crimes".

However they add: "We still do not know the full scale of his offending at Bright Horizons, Finchley Road. Every family deserves the truth, and every child who suffered must see justice done.

“Bright Horizons must also be held to account. We believe their safeguarding failures created the perfect hunting ground for a predator.

"Chan was not a ‘lone wolf’, and this was not about extraordinary technical skill. He was able to operate for years in a workplace where safeguarding failures were missed, minimised or ignored."

They continue: “Camden Council must use its powers to pursue Bright Horizons for breaches under the health and safety at work act. A nursery must be a place of safety, not a place where children are put at risk.

“We are also using the Victims’ Right to Review to seek reconsideration of the neglect charges for which Chan was first arrested. Our children carry what was done to them.

"They deserve justice, and we will not stop until they have it."

Harry Low
BBC London News

We've heard from a representative of the families whose children attended Bright Horizons nursery where Chan carried out some of his abuse.

A victim impact statement says: “The impact of Vincent Chan’s actions upon our entire community has been profound.

"The knowledge that he was not only capable of such acts but committed them against children within the nursery has created a permanent ache in our hearts.

“The lasting trauma of ‘what if’ is powerfully felt throughout our community because of Vincent Chan’s actions. It offers no closure, no reassurance, no healing and no point at which anxiety can safely end or be meaningfully processed.

“The fear we feel about the cruel violation of our children will never dissipate. Ordinary memories from early childhood are now tainted with doubt, anxiety and guilt.”

Harry Low
BBC London News

Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Highgate, where the nursery was located, says Chan has committed "unimaginable crimes against my most vulnerable constituents".

She says: "My thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of his crimes and their families.

"It is every parent’s worst nightmare to discover that their child has been subject to abuse. For this to have happened in a nursery, where parents trusted their children would be safe, is truly abhorrent.

"Tragically, many families will likely never know whether their child was a victim. The lack of evidence about what was happening in the nursery, in the rooms where Chan was in charge, means that some parents are left only with questions."

She adds: "Today’s sentence is an important step in delivering justice for all the families affected by Chan’s crimes. It ensures he will not be free to commit further abuse.

"I know however, that for many parents, justice will only come from knowing that every possible protection has been put in place to prevent abuse like this from happening again."

Harry Low
BBC London News

Image source, PA Media

In a statement Det Supt Lewis Basford, the senior investigating officer, says: "Chan’s crimes are horrific, but we will not let his name overshadow today.

“Our foremost responsibility throughout has been to the victims – carrying out a meticulous investigation that established the extent of the offending and ensured Chan was held to account.

“I want to thank every victim and family who engaged with us during this traumatic process. Their trust enabled us to secure further charges and today’s significant sentence.

“I am also grateful to the community, our investigation team and the CPS for the valuable roles they played.

“To all those affected – our commitment to you does not end today. We remain by your side, and we will continue to ensure you receive the long-term support you need.”

We'll have more reaction shortly with statements due to be read outside court.

Harry Low
BBC London News

The judge has sent Vincent Chan down and that concludes his sentencing remarks.

He thanks the victims, police and legal teams for their work.

We'll have all the reaction to the jailing of a nursery worker described by the judge as "utterly wicked" for his crimes.