Vanessa George: Paedophile nursery worker banned from Devon and Cornwall after release from prison

A nursery school worker described as “Britain’s worst woman paedophile” will be banned from Devon and Cornwall after her release from prison.

Vanessa George, 49, was handed an indefinite jail sentence in 2009 for abusing children in her care but the Parole Board announced in July that she no longer posed “a significant risk to the public”.

The decision prompted a backlash from parents, the media and local Plymouth MP Luke Pollard, who tweeted: “Her release makes me sick – she should be kept in jail.”

In an attempt to reassure the public, chief probation officer Sonia Crozier set out the terms of George’s release on licence in an open letter.

They include “an unusually large exclusion zone” preventing George from returning to either Devon or Cornwall.

George, who is due to be freed later this month, is also barred from having unsupervised contact with any children and working with children. She will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of her life.

Parents who have been affected by the case can also ask for updates from a dedicated victim liaison officer who will notify them when George is released or if she is recalled to prison for breaching her licence conditions.

They can also request for an extension of the exclusion zone to prevent them coming into contact with George.

“I share the disgust at the crimes committed by Vanessa George and I understand why the prospect of her release is so worrying to so many people, particularly in Plymouth where memories of her abuse are still vivid and frightening,” wrote Ms Crozier in her open letter.

“The fact she so callously exploited a position of trust to commit these crimes makes them all the more horrifying. With that in mind, I want to make sure your readers are aware that they can access support if these crimes affected them – and also know the strict licence conditions George will face on release from prison.

“Vanessa George will not be allowed to return to Devon or Cornwall. The Parole Board has imposed an unusually large exclusion zone which reflects the nature of her crimes, and the number of victims and the seriousness with which we’re taking our responsibility to victims and the wider public.

“She will also never be allowed to work with children again and will be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of her life. She is subject to a number of conditions, including not to have unsupervised contact with any children whatsoever. If she breaches any of these conditions or if her probation officer thinks there is an increasing chance she might re-offend – she can be immediately recalled to prison.”

She added: ”Nothing can take away the pain caused to victims and the fear felt by the community about her release – but I hope that you will find some reassurance in the extremely strict safeguards which are in place and the services available to any victim who wants them.”

George admitted seven sexual assaults against babies and toddlers at the Little Ted’s nursery in Plymouth following her arrest in 2008.

However the real number may has been as high as 30, and support was offered to more than 200 families who may have been affected.

The Parole Board said that George had shown remorse, worked well with professionals and had addressed her sexual offending behaviour while in prison.