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Parents claim nursery ignored warnings about Vincent Chan before abuse incident

According to the BBC, the parents of two children claim they had previously expressed concerns to nursery staff about Chan, but felt their warnings were disregarded.

A number of parents have come forward, claiming they alerted childcare officials about a nursery worker's suspicious behavior months before his arrest, only to be disregarded and made to feel overly anxious.

A still from bodycam footage of the police arrest of Vincent Chan. He is outside a house and is weaing a grey T-shirt with a black long-sleeved top underneath. He is wearing glasses and a bicycle helmet. Police are standing either side of him and his arm is being held.
Vincent Chan was descibed as "utterly wicked" by the judge at Wood Green Crown Court

Vincent Chan, a former employee of Bright Horizons in north-west London, has received an 18-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 56 sex offenses, including the abuse of children in his care at the nursery.

Staff members first became aware of Chan's questionable actions in May 2024, when he was caught filming children at the nursery, located on Finchley Road in West Hampstead.

However, some parents allege that they had expressed concerns about Chan's behavior to the nursery management several months prior to this incident.

Upon investigating, law enforcement officials discovered disturbing content on Chan's devices, which ultimately led to the uncovering of video evidence showing children at the nursery being sexually abused by him.

Further investigation revealed that Chan had used nursery iPads to film some of the abuse, which was later found by the authorities.

Bright Horizons, a UK-wide nursery chain, has stated that it prioritizes parents' concerns and takes the safety of children very seriously, acknowledging that Chan's actions constituted a serious breach of trust.

The nursery where Chan worked has since closed its doors.

The BBC has spoken to a couple, referred to as Rachel and John, whose children attended the nursery and were taught by Chan; their real names have been withheld to protect their children's identities.

The couple claims that they initially raised concerns when their son returned home from nursery with unexplained bruises and bite marks, but their worries were allegedly dismissed.

As part of the investigation, the couple was forced to examine images of Chan's abuse to determine whether their daughter was a victim, a traumatic experience for them.

To this day, they remain uncertain as to whether their daughter was abused by Chan.

Months before Chan's arrest, Rachel notified the nursery manager about her son's sudden and unexplained behavioral changes, which included fits of rage.

The child would often shout and scream at home, refusing to attend nursery, and would say "Vincent is angry," which raised concerns for the parents.

When Rachel's son came home with bruises and bite marks, another child at the nursery allegedly told him, "You're a bad boy," further alarming the parents.

However, when Rachel reported these incidents to the nursery manager and deputy manager in early 2024, she claims they downplayed her concerns and made her feel like an overreacting parent.

According to Rachel, the nursery staff assured her that Chan was a competent teacher and dismissed her concerns without further investigation.

Chan had been employed at the Bright Horizons nursery from 2017 to 2024, working as an early years practitioner and nursery nurse with children aged two to four.

He was suspended in May 2024 after a staff member raised concerns, and subsequent investigations uncovered disturbing videos filmed by Chan, including footage of Rachel's son crying.

The videos showed Chan filming the child's distress, rather than providing comfort or support, which Rachel found deeply disturbing.

It was later discovered that Chan had edited the videos to mock the child and had encouraged other children to hit him.

In September 2025, when police found images of Chan abusing girls, the couple had to endure the ordeal of examining the images to see if their daughter was a victim, although they were ultimately unable to determine this with certainty.

John described the experience as extremely challenging, saying it was difficult to ascertain whether the victim was their daughter or not.

Rachel expressed her confusion and frustration, wondering how Chan was able to work with young children for so long without his predatory behavior being detected.

The couple had chosen Bright Horizons due to its reputation as one of the most expensive and supposedly trustworthy nurseries in the area.

Vincent Chan police custody image
Vincent Chan admitted 56 charges, including 26 in relation to the nursery

They remain upset that Chan was not charged with cruelty in relation to the video of their son, and the Crown Prosecution Service is currently reviewing the decision not to pursue cruelty charges.

Following initial concerns about Chan, Ofsted conducted safeguarding checks at the nursery.

The couple expressed shock that Ofsted inspectors had rated the nursery as "Good" just a year after Chan's suspension, despite the allegations against him.

Camden Council has initiated a Local Safeguarding Practice Review to examine the case and identify areas for improvement.

Rachel and John are part of a civil lawsuit against Bright Horizons, filed by Leigh Day solicitors, which alleges that the nursery failed to address concerns about Chan's behavior.

The law firm stated that Bright Horizons consistently disregarded parents' concerns, creating a culture that enabled Chan's abusive behavior to go undetected.

Bright Horizons has released a statement emphasizing its commitment to taking parents' concerns seriously and encouraging feedback, with a dedicated complaints team in place to address any issues.

The nursery chain outlined its procedures for escalating concerns, ensuring that parents' worries are thoroughly investigated and resolved whenever possible.

While Bright Horizons cannot comment on individual cases, it acknowledged the concerns raised by parents and their lawyers, expressing a commitment to learn from these experiences and improve its safeguarding practices.

The nursery chain encouraged parents to share their concerns and experiences as part of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review, to help identify areas for improvement.

An Ofsted spokesperson confirmed that the regulatory body was informed of Chan's suspension in May 2024 and conducted a visit to the nursery in August 2024.

Ofsted returned to the nursery for a full inspection in May 2025, after the management team had changed, and found the nursery to be satisfactory.

The spokesperson noted that the full extent of the allegations against Chan did not emerge until September 2025, after the nursery had closed, and Ofsted is currently reviewing its handling of the case.

A Camden Council spokesperson confirmed the council's participation in the independent Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review, emphasizing its commitment to supporting families and strengthening safeguarding measures in the community.

For those impacted by Chan's actions, the NSPCC has established a specialized helpline, which can be reached at 0800 028 0828.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling

A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.

The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

A close-up photo of Chloe Mitchell - a young woman with long, straight, fair hair -  smiling at the camera. She is wearing black-framed sunglasses with blue lenses on her head, which are partially visible.
Chloe Mitchell's remains were found eight days after she went missing in 2023

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

A close-up of Brandon Rainey, a man with short, fair hair and stubble, looking at the camera.  He is sitting in a vehicle on a dark, wet night.
Brandon Rainey is accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

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