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Nursery worker admits sex abuse Nursery worker admits sex abuse
(30 minutes later)
A Plymouth nursery worker and two other people have pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children and distributing indecent images. A Plymouth nursery worker and two other people she met online have pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children and distributing indecent images.
Vanessa George, Angela Allen, from Nottingham, and Colin Blanchard, from Rochdale, all 39, appeared at Bristol Crown Court, having never met before. Vanessa George, Angela Allen, from Nottingham, and Colin Blanchard, from Rochdale, all 39, had never met in person before they appeared in court.
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.
Detectives say they will continue to try to identify the children abused at George's nursery. Police, who said the abuse was "horrific", are continuing to try to identify victims at George's nursery.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said of the trio: "Those three individuals have shared quite willingly and freely images, texts, fantasies of the most serious level you could imagine." George, Allen and Blanchard met on social networking website, Facebook, and never met in person.
Detective Superintendent Adrian Pearson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said the trio had been guilty of child abuse in its most "horrific and devilish form".
"Those three individuals have shared quite willingly and freely images, texts, fantasies of the most serious level you could imagine," he said.
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 at Bristol Crown Court was packed on Thursday 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. Three forces were involved - Devon and Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester. The abuse began in September last year and the three were arrested in June following a police investigation involving officers from the forces in Devon and Cornwall, Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester.
The trio admitted to 37 out of 38 counts. The trio pleaded guilty to 37 out of 38 counts.
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, admitted 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 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 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 RoyceIf 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 containing images of child abuse, the court heard.They exchanged thousands of e-mail and text messages 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.No-one else is believed to have been involved.
Judge John Royce warned the three abusers they faced substantial prison sentences. Judge John Royce, who adjourned sentencing for reports, 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.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." 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."
'Gross nature''Gross nature'
Det Supt Michele Slevin, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said experts had been unable to identify any of the children filmed by George.Det Supt Michele Slevin, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said experts had been unable to identify any of the children filmed by George.
She said George had been interviewed five times and had not given any names. She said George had been interviewed five times and had not given any name, but identifying the children remained their "priority".
"It's clear she's caused massive trauma to a great number of victims, not just the children involved but the families and community within Plymouth," she said."It's clear she's caused massive trauma to a great number of victims, not just the children involved but the families and community within Plymouth," she said.
It is not known when the three first met but Detective Inspector Tony Creely, of Greater Manchester Police's sexual crime unit, said they "were as bad as each other".It is not known when the three first met but Detective Inspector Tony Creely, of Greater Manchester Police's sexual crime unit, said they "were as bad as each other".
"Blanchard, George and Allen sent thousands of messages between each of them. Blanchard expressed love for each of the women, and they would reciprocate," he said."Blanchard, George and Allen sent thousands of messages between each of them. Blanchard expressed love for each of the women, and they would reciprocate," he said.
"They would discuss sexual matters of a crude and gross nature and the abuse of children in the texts and e-mails."They would discuss sexual matters of a crude and gross nature and the abuse of children in the texts and e-mails.
"All of them were getting gratification from the texts and seeing who could have the worst idea.""All of them were getting gratification from the texts and seeing who could have the worst idea."