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Nursery worker admits sex abuse Nursery worker admits sex abuse
(10 minutes later)
A Plymouth nursery worker and her two co-defendants have pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to sexual assaults against young children.A Plymouth nursery worker and her two co-defendants have pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to sexual assaults against young children.
Vanessa George, 39, from Plymouth, Angela Allen, 39, from Nottingham and Colin Blanchard, 39, from Rochdale, appeared at Bristol Crown Court. Vanessa George, 39, Angela Allen, 39, from Nottingham and Colin Blanchard, 39, from Rochdale, appeared at Bristol Crown Court.
Between them they faced 37 counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children. The three admitted 37 of 38 counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children.
The three pleaded guilty during a joint hearing at Bristol Crown Court. They met online and only came face to face in court.
The public gallery was packed with about 30 parents who wept as the guilty pleas were entered.
One man pointed at Blanchard and was asked to calm himself by the usher. Allen wept as she pleaded guilty while Blanchard showed no reaction and George hung her head in the dock.
They were arrested in June following a police investigation.They were arrested in June following a police investigation.
George, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in the Efford area of Plymouth, pleaded guilty to 13 charges including sexual abuse of children and making and distributing indecent images of children.George, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in the Efford area of Plymouth, pleaded guilty to 13 charges including sexual abuse of children and making and distributing indecent images of children.
She pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault which was ordered by the judge to lie on file.She pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual assault which was ordered by the judge to lie on file.
Networking websiteNetworking website
Allen, of Nine Acre Gardens, Nottingham, admitted five counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children.Allen, of Nine Acre Gardens, Nottingham, admitted five counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children.
IT worker Blanchard, of Yea Fold, Smallbridge, near Rochdale admitted 19 counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children.IT worker Blanchard, of Yea Fold, Smallbridge, near Rochdale admitted 19 counts of sexual assault and distributing indecent images of children.
The three are believed to have met on the social networking website, Facebook, and had not met in person.The three are believed to have met on the social networking website, Facebook, and had not met in person.
They exchanged thousands of email and text messages between them containing images of child abuse, the court heard. They exchanged thousands of e-mail and text messages between them containing images of child abuse, the court heard.
Blanchard was arrested on 6 June after one of his colleagues contacted police.Blanchard was arrested on 6 June after one of his colleagues contacted police.
Examination of his laptop computer led to the arrests of George and Allen.Examination of his laptop computer led to the arrests of George and Allen.
No-one else is believed to have been involved.No-one else is believed to have been involved.