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Nursery worker appears in court | Nursery worker appears in court |
(40 minutes later) | |
A nursery worker has appeared in court charged with a series of sexual assaults on children. | A nursery worker has appeared in court charged with a series of sexual assaults on children. |
Vanessa George, 39, of Plymouth, Devon, appeared before magistrates in the city to face four charges of sexual assault. | |
She also faced one count each of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. | She also faced one count each of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children. |
There were tears and shouts of anger from the public gallery as Ms George was remanded in custody to appear at Plymouth Crown Court on 21 September. | There were tears and shouts of anger from the public gallery as Ms George was remanded in custody to appear at Plymouth Crown Court on 21 September. |
She faces three counts of sexual assaults on a girl under the age of 13 and one count of sexual assault on a boy under the age of 13. | |
Vanessa George was remanded in custody | |
Ms George, wearing a white T-shirt and black trousers, spoke only to confirm her name and address. She entered no pleas. | Ms George, wearing a white T-shirt and black trousers, spoke only to confirm her name and address. She entered no pleas. |
As Ms George was led away, a man leapt from the public gallery and spat at her and another man ran from the court in tears. | As Ms George was led away, a man leapt from the public gallery and spat at her and another man ran from the court in tears. |
Before she appeared magistrate Hilary Anderson had warned people not to disrupt the hearing. | |
She said: "This case is of a very sensitive nature and I would like to remind those in the public gallery that they should remain silent during proceedings. | |
"Anyone causing disruption will be removed from the court and if necessary the court would be cleared." | |
Jon Kay,in Plymouth | Jon Kay,in Plymouth |
Court number one was packed. So busy, in fact, that some members of the public and press had to wait outside in the corridors. | Court number one was packed. So busy, in fact, that some members of the public and press had to wait outside in the corridors. |
Inside, we watched 39-year-old Vanessa George as the graphic charges against her were read out. | Inside, we watched 39-year-old Vanessa George as the graphic charges against her were read out. |
She bowed her head throughout the 10-minute hearing, speaking only to confirm her name, age and give her address as no fixed abode. | She bowed her head throughout the 10-minute hearing, speaking only to confirm her name, age and give her address as no fixed abode. |
People in court had been warned by the magistrate to remain silent - but there were gasps, shouts and tears from the packed public gallery. | People in court had been warned by the magistrate to remain silent - but there were gasps, shouts and tears from the packed public gallery. |
Police had drafted in 20 officers at the court for the hearing. | |
A plastic barrier was put up around the entrance to the court where a group of people had arrived. | A plastic barrier was put up around the entrance to the court where a group of people had arrived. |
There were more angry scenes as people shouted at the police van carrying Ms George away from court. | There were more angry scenes as people shouted at the police van carrying Ms George away from court. |
Following the hearing two men, aged 22 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage, in connection with the attack on the police van. | |
Ms George, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, arrived at the court earlier in a police van with blacked-out windows. | |
Police are continuing to speak to staff and parents of children who used the nursery. | Police are continuing to speak to staff and parents of children who used the nursery. |
About 95 families have been contacted and offered support, advice and counselling. | About 95 families have been contacted and offered support, advice and counselling. |
The nursery is still closed for police investigations. | The nursery is still closed for police investigations. |