New abuse case suspect ruled out

The three met on the internet

Detectives investigating the Plymouth nursery child abuse case have rejected reports of another suspect.

Police were thought to be investigating a mystery hand on a photo belonging to Colin Blanchard, from Manchester.

But officers have told BBC News the image was downloaded from the internet and was unconnected with the case.

Blanchard was convicted with Plymouth nursery worker Vanessa George and Angela Allen of Nottingham, of a series of child abuse offences.

This image is a random child abuse image downloaded from the internet Police spokesman

George, 39, who worked at Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth, admitted a string of chilling sexual assault offences involving children as young as 12 months.

She swapped pictures of the abuse with Blanchard and Allen, also 39, who admitted similar charges at Bristol Crown Court.

Blanchard, Allen and George all face sentence in November.

It was reported that one of the images found on Blanchard's computer showed a hand which suggested that someone else was involved with the paedophile ring.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman told BBC News: "The image is a random child abuse image downloaded from the internet.

"It has no connection to Vanessa George or the Plymouth nursery where she worked."

New identity

Police say they intend to re-interview George after the judge in the case called on her to let the 30 families involved know which children were her victims.

Community leader Kathy Hancock said: "Some parents just want to get on with their lives and enjoy their children.

"And there are a few families who want to know and need to know to put some closure on this."

It has also been suggested that George could get a new identity to protect her from revenge attacks.

Mrs Hancock said: "That's what angers parents most, after such awful crimes."

George, Allen and Blanchard met via the social networking site Facebook. They had never met in person before appearing at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

A woman from Liverpool was charged with abuse offences but the case was dropped in July due to insufficient evidence.