Former child nursery worker admits sex offences

A 20-year-old woman who worked at a children's nursery has admitted a series of child sex offences.

Zara Lancashire, 20, of Datchworth Turn, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, admitted making and distributing indecent child images and publishing obscene articles at a hearing in St Albans Crown Court earlier.

Judge Lana Wood remanded Lancashire in custody and said she would pass sentence on 5 March.

Lancashire, who appeared at court via a video link from HMP Peterborough, had worked at a Flower Pots Day Nursery in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.

Lancashire admitted a total of 11 offences - four distributing indecent child images, three making indecent child images and four publishing obscene articles.

She spoke to confirm personal details and answered "guilty" as each of the 11 counts was put to her by a court clerk.

Some images she admitted distributing were classed as category A - the most severe.

Judge Wood indicated that she would consider psychological and psychiatric reports on Lancashire before passing sentence.

The judge told Lancashire that "credit" would be given for guilty pleas and that the planned trial would now not take place.

The directors of Flower Pots Day Nursery, which operates in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, told parents in September that a staff member had been suspended and it had informed child protection authorities.

Ofsted suspended the registration of the Kings Langley nursery for six weeks.

Children have since been relocated to the nursery's Apsley site, where directors say Lancashire had never been employed.

The directors told parents in a statement: "We also want to reassure you that we remain as committed as always to maintaining a safe and trusted environment for your children."

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