Vanessa George case: Plymouth board to hold SCR

Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board is conducting a serious case review following allegations of child sexual abuse made against a nursery worker in the city.

Vanessa George, who worked at Little Ted’s Nursery in Plymouth, appeared in court last week charged with sexually assaulting children and making and distributing indecent images of children.

The 39-year-old was jeered and spat at by relatives of the alleged victims in a tense hearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court.

Family support reviewed

In a statement, the LSCB said it was reviewing the support offered to families involved in the case and the community “at this very difficult time”.

The serious case review was announced following an extraordinary meeting of the board on Friday. The report would ensure lessons were learned “for Plymouth and the rest of the country”, it said.

Following an investigation by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, George has been charged with two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, one count of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 by touching and one count of sexually assaulting a girl under 13.

She is also charged with one count each of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Multi-agency interventions

Under the Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance, serious case reviews must be carried out in the event of a death of a child where abuse is known or suspected to be a factor. They should always be considered when children have been seriously injured as a result of abuse and the case raises concerns about the way agencies and professionals work together to protect children.

External information

Plymouth Local Safeguarding Children Board