From correspondents in London | Agence France-Presse | June 11, 2009

A WOMAN who worked at a childcare centre in Britain was charged today with several counts of sexual assault and of making and distributing indecent images of children, police said.

Vanessa George, a 39-year-old mother of two, worked at Little Ted's Nursery in Plymouth, southwest England. The nursery, attended by about 60 children, has been closed since her arrest on Tuesday.

Police said some of the indecent images could have been taken in the nursery and some had been taken on a camera phone. All the children featured - none of whom had yet been identified - were under four years old.

"This is a significant and disturbing situation," said Chief Superintendent Jim Webster, of Devon and Cornwall Police.

Assistant Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Middleton said: "It's safe to say we believe some of the images would have been taken within the nursery - but others, it's impossible to say where those would have been taken."

He said police were trying to identify the children in the images, but added: "Some images may never be identified."

Social services said they had been in contact with 95 families connected with the nursery, who were understandably "shocked".
Ms George has been charged with seven offences - two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault by touching, and three further counts of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

She will appear at Plymouth Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Police are investigating an exchange of information between George and a 38-year-old man, Colin Blanchard. He appeared in court in the north of England yesterday charged with possessing and distributing indecent images.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25619273-401,00.html

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