A nursery employee, Zara Lancashire, the alleged Hemel Hempstead Paedophile, has been arraigned in court on charges of sexually assaulting a minor.
Zara Lancashire, an employee at Flower Pots Day Nursery in Kings Langley, near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, has been charged with three counts of distributing indecent images of a child, three counts of producing indecent images of a child, and four counts of disseminating an obscene article through a chat application.
The 20-year-old, Zara Lancashire, from Datchworth Turn, Hemel Hempstead, was apprehended on Monday and subsequently appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Hertfordshire Police stated that the charges are part of a continuing investigation into child sexual offences.
Detective Chief Inspector James Howarth stated, “We acknowledge that this information will be profoundly unsettling for numerous individuals within the community.”
This investigation is being conducted with the highest level of seriousness and care. We are collaborating closely with the daycare in question and will be reaching out to parents and guardians directly as part of our investigation.
Ofsted has informed The Independent that it has halted the nursery’s registration, necessitating some parents to seek alternative arrangements.
The educational institution acts when it has grounds to suspect that ongoing childcare services may jeopardise a child’s safety, in accordance with its established guidelines.
The Flower Pots Day Nursery Childcare company, operating in Kings Langley and seven additional locations in the vicinity, stated that it is collaborating closely with law enforcement and aiding trained officers who would be engaging with youngsters.
A spokesman stated: “We recognise that this situation may cause concern and distress for our families, and our designated safeguarding leads are available to meet with parents at their convenience.”
Those acquainted with us understand that the safety and well-being of the children in our custody have consistently been our paramount concern. We are fully dedicated to providing our parents with comprehensive support during this challenging period.
The nursery’s most recent Ofsted evaluation in 2023 evaluated it as “good,” with inspectors deeming safeguarding as “effective” and confirming that the manager guarantees all personnel interacting with children are “suitable.”
The nursery commenced operations in July 2021 and is affiliated with the Flower Pots Day Nursery group, which encompasses eight locations in Hertfordshire, as stated on its website.
It accommodates children aged one to four and has an enrolment of 70.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the people highlighted on this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report to Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.