Nursery where police contacted 100 families as they probed claims of sex assault by staff member closes for good
- Jack and Jill Childcare Limited in Torquay, Devon, said it has been helping police
- An investigation was launched into allegations involving children last July
- One worker was arrested and sacked after being accused of ‘contact offences’
- Business stopped trading last November but has now decided to close for good
A nursery at the centre of a police probe into alleged sexual assaults by a member of staff has closed.
Jack and Jill Childcare Limited in Torquay, Devon, said it has been helping police since an investigation was launched into allegations involving children last July.
A worker was arrested and sacked after being accused of a number of ‘contact offences’ with young children, and remains on police bail.
A sign at Jack and Jill Childcare nursery in Torquay, Devon, is pictured on November 5 last year
The business stopped trading last November but has now decided to close for good. Parents were given the news in an email from the nursery.
It said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we write to inform you of our decision to close Jack and Jill Childcare Limited.
Co-owner John Nelson, pictured at his home next to the nursery, said last November that he didn’t see ‘anything untoward’
‘Following [alleged] events from July 2019, we have worked tirelessly alongside the police, Ofsted, and the Local authority.
‘Thank you for your support over the years, and more especially recently. The love and care shown by so many of you has brought light during such darkness.
‘We wish you every happiness and success, and may 2020 be a year of positivity for you all. With love and thanks from Jack and Jill Childcare Limited.’
More than 100 families were initially contacted by police following allegations of sexual assault involving multiple children at the nursery.
A teenage male was then arrested in connection and has since been released on police bail to January 22.
His bail conditions include not attending the area of the nursery and he has since moved out of the force area whilst the investigation continues.
The business in Devon stopped trading last November but has now decided to close for good
The childcare business had been operating for 15 years.
Speaking from his home attached to the nursery, the owner John Nelson told MailOnline last November: ‘We have CCTV and most nurseries don’t.
‘We didn’t see anything untoward but then maybe we are not looking with the same eyes as the police. Maybe we see something and perhaps don’t see it as cause for concern’.
When asked if he believed the male worker had abused the children he added: ‘It’s for a judge and jury to decide – and the CPS in the first instance – as to whether an offence has been committed.’
Parents were given the news that the site in Torquay is closing in an email from the nursery
A multi-agency response involving police, the local authority, NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and Ofsted was launched to investigate the allegation.
Speaking last November, Acting Detective Chief Inspector James Stock said: ‘Since the information was received in July, a police investigation has been ongoing.
‘As part of this, over 250 hours of CCTV from within Jack and Jill Childcare have been reviewed.
‘As a result of CCTV enquiries, a number of children aged 2+ have been identified as potential victims of contact offences.
‘We have now contacted all parents and guardians of children who attended Jack and Jill Childcare in relation to our investigation.
‘The contact appears to be limited to within the nursery setting and we do not believe that any other member of staff had knowledge of these matters.
‘These appear to be the actions of a lone individual, and the offences do not involve the taking or distributing of any images.’
A helpline was set up by the Torbay Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, and is hosted by the local authority for anyone concerned. The number is 01803 208820.