This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/8284192.stm

The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
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, Angela Allen, 39, from Nottingham and Colin Blanchard, 39, from Rochdale, appeared at Bristol Crown Court, having never met before.Vanessa George, 39, Angela Allen, 39, from Nottingham and Colin Blanchard, 39, from Rochdale, appeared at Bristol Crown Court, having never met before.
The three admitted 37 of 38 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.
Abuse was recorded on mobile phones and images exchanged via e-mail and text.Abuse was recorded on mobile phones and images exchanged via e-mail and text.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson said: "Those three individuals have shared quite willingly and freely images, texts, fantasies of the most serious level you could imagine." Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Those three individuals have shared quite willingly and freely images, texts, fantasies of the most serious level you could imagine."
The identities of the children who were abused are unknown.The identities of the children who were abused are unknown.
Wept in courtWept in court
The public gallery was packed with about 30 parents who wept as the guilty pleas were entered.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.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.
The probability I would have to say is very low that we will identify any of these children Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris Chilling bond between abusersThe probability I would have to say is very low that we will identify any of these children Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris Chilling bond between abusers
The abuse began in September last year and they were arrested in June following a police investigation. The abuse began in September last year and they were arrested in June following a police investigation. Three forces were involved - Devon and Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester.
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.
Her arrest sparked massive public outrage and angry scenes during earlier court appearances.Her arrest sparked massive public outrage and angry scenes during earlier court appearances.
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.
Website contactWebsite contact
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.
If I were a parent I would want to know whether my child was abused or not Judge John Royce
They exchanged thousands of e-mail 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 found obscene pictures on a work computer.Blanchard was arrested on 6 June after one of his colleagues found obscene pictures on a work computer.
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. Sentencing is expected to take place several weeks' time. No-one else is believed to have been involved.
Judge John Royce warned the three abusers they faced substantial prison sentences.
He said the "decent" thing for George to do would be to co-operate with police in identifying all the abuse victims in the photographs.
Speaking to George's lawyer, the judge said: "Your client must know it seems to me who she has abused and who she has not. If I were a parent I would want to know whether my child was abused or not."
Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris, of Devon and Cornwall Police public protection unit, said: "No individual child has been identified from the images, and that's down to the nature of the images themselves.Detective Inspector Costa Nassaris, of Devon and Cornwall Police public protection unit, said: "No individual child has been identified from the images, and that's down to the nature of the images themselves.
"Work is ongoing, we've not given up on that but the probability I would have to say is very low that we will identify any of these children.""Work is ongoing, we've not given up on that but the probability I would have to say is very low that we will identify any of these children."