Anger at book about nursery paedophile Vanessa George

George admitted a series of sexual assaults on children

Families in Plymouth whose children were looked after by nursery paedophile Vanessa George are angry over the launch of a book about her.

George, who worked at Little Ted's in Laira, was sentenced to a minimum of seven years in prison in December 2009.

Community worker Kathy Hancock told BBC News that some parents had been "horrified" by the book, Vanessa: A Portrait of Evil, by Wensley Clarkson.

Mr Clarkson said his book was in no way sympathetic to George.

The 39-year-old nursery worker abused children and swapped images of them over the internet.

She admitted a series of sexual assaults and making and distributing indecent images of children.

Mrs Hancock, who has acted as unofficial spokeswoman for families in the Efford area of Plymouth since George was arrested in June last year, said: "A lot of the families have been through a lot. They have come to terms with what's happened and moved on.

"They go shopping and right in front of them is a picture of Vanessa George on the cover of a book.

"A couple of parents have been horrified by it.

"They are asking why on earth is there a book about it."

I'm not trying to sympathise with her at all Wensley Clarkson

Crime writer Mr Clarkson said: "I completely understand why some of the families are angry but I don't think you can put a timescale on when a book should be released.

"The court case has been heard.

"I'm not trying to sympathise with her at all, the book is no excuse for what she did.

"It does perhaps help us understand why she ended up doing what she did."

He said his investigations had revealed more about George's character.

"The more I dug into her family background the more I began to see things which had happened to her which began to explain, not excuse, why she ended up committing these crimes.

"I think it's very important to understand this because what we don't want is another Vanessa George.

"I'm not trying to pretend my book is a Bible to stop this kind of thing happening again.

"But it does give some clues and perhaps in the future we might spot characteristics in people and perhaps prevent this sort of travesty happening again."