Nursery Worker Charged With Sexual Assault At Laira

A nursery worker has been charged with sexual assault and the distribution of indecent images of children.

Vanessa George, 39, was arrested on Monday after police swooped on her home in Efford, Plymouth, and at the Little Ted's nursery.

She has now been charged with seven offences including sexual assault and making and distributing indecent images of children.

Acting Det Chief Supt Russ Middleton of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary told Sky News of the scale of the inquiry.

"We have specially trained officers looking at the images and there are a large number of images and many, many more can be identified.

"We have seized evidence and there will be more invest to carry on over the coming days and weeks."

The detective confirmed a cameraphone with undated photos was central to the investigation but admitted that additional equipment now needs examination.

No children have yet been identified and some photos are of torsos, making identification difficult.

Police revealed that images discovered range from Level 1 to Level 4 - only one level below the most serious classification.

"The starting point is a camera but we also have things such as computer and laptops to examine, but I do not want to go into details," he told Sky News.

Little Ted's, which caters for children from around 95 families.

Local authorities are helping with the relocation of day-care facilities for children elsewhere in Plymouth.

Police confirmed their investigation was focused on the alleged exchange of material between George and Colin Blanchard, 38, from Littleborough, near Rochdale.

Blanchard was yesterday charged with possession and distribution of indecent images, some of which they believe were taken at an undisclosed location within Little Ted's nursery in Laira.

Bromwen Lacey, Director of Services for Children andYoung People at Plymouth City Council, revealed that social services have cranked up facilities for both children and families of those at Little Ted's.

"NHS Plymouth is working for the right support for individual needs of the children and their families," she said.

"Mental health services for children and adults are being geared up if they are needed."


Plymouth nursery woman charged with child abuse and porn
Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 14:10

NURSERY worker Vanessa George has been charged with child abuse and child pornography offences.

This afternoon, Vanessa George, 39, from Efford, Plymouth, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in Laira, has been charged with seven offences.

George has been charged with two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault by touching, and one count each of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Police said none of the children involved had yet been identified, but they said some of the images so far examined appear to have been taken in the nursery.

They said some of the children may never be identified as the process is 'very difficult and painstaking'. They revealed some of the images featured children's torsos rather than faces.

George remains in custody at Charles Cross Police Station in Plymouth and will be detained to appear before Plymouth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

At a press conference this afternoon it was announced that all parents at the nursery had been spoken to or visited by social workers.

Support and counselling is being offered by Plymouth City Council and NHS Plymouth with a special phoneline providing access to healthcare professional, educational psychologist, social workers and others.

Police revealed they are examining a number of images found on devices including a mobile phone. They said it was unclear over what period the images had been taken.

George has worked at the nursery for three years.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed their investigation was focused on the alleged exchange of material between George and Colin Blanchard, 38, from Littleborough, near Rochdale.

Blanchard was yesterday charged with possession and distribution of indecent images.

Senior officers told the press this afternoon that they were currently looking at a “small number” of images on a camera phone, some of which they believed were taken inside the Little Ted’s nursery in Laira, Plymouth.



Police press conference: Wednesday, June 10.

Police press conference: questions form the media. Wednesday, June 10.

Plymouth City Council director of children and young people's services Bronwyn Lacey said 95 to 100 parent had been spoken to, and she praised their 'measured' response to the 'shocking' news.

Police continue to speak to staff at the Little Ted’s Child Day Care Unit and parents of children at the centre.

Around 100 people attended a meeting last night, Tuesday, June 9, at the St Paul’s Church in Plymouth where Plymouth District Commander Chief Superintendent Jim Webster spoke to parents and those associated with the nursery along with Plymouth City Council’s Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Bronwyn Lacey .

Ch Supt Webster said: “We continue to talk extensively with members of our community who are naturally concerned about these charges.

“Last night’s meeting was well attended by those people associated with the nursery and we took the opportunity to allay their fears where possible and also further the police investigation into the allegations.

“We will continue to liaise with local groups and people associated with the nursery and are committed with our partners to update concerned and interested parties at the earliest opportunity.”

Sky News correspondent Katie Stallard said George had been a child care worker since at least 1998, and had been at Little Teds for the last two years.

Chief Superintendent Jim Webster, head of Plymouth police, said George was suspected of being "concerned in the distribution of child pornography images".

"Of course, it is a concern to all of us that she worked in a nursery," he said.

"Our work today is to find out what has happened, where the images have come from, where they have been sent to, and any risk to anybody in Plymouth."

Little Teds operates from Laira Green Primary School and Laira United Church Hall.

Children in the nursery are aged between two and five but youngsters up to 11 can attend breakfast and after-school clubs.

Both units will remain closed for the time being, police said.

The force also confirmed that their investigation was focused on the church site which looks after the youngest group of babies and toddlers.

Worried parents dropping children off at the nursery on Tuesday were handed letters explaining that a staff member has been arrested and it was closed.

One parent, whose three-year-old boy attends the nursery, told the Plymouth Herald: "I feel sick. I can't believe this. I am never ever bringing my son back - not in a million years."