7 Jan 2011

Nursery worker remanded on child rape charge

Paul Wilson, 20, is remanded in custody charged with raping a child. He had been held overnight after an inquiry into alleged sexual abuses at the Little Stars Nursery in Birmingham.

Little Stars nursery

Wilson was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday in Nechells, Birmingham and charged by police later that evening.

An investigation into suspected child abuse at the Little Stars Nursery was launched by West Midlands Police after they seized a computer from Wilson’s home over a separate incident.

Wilson is facing two charges of raping a child between January 2009 and July 2010. He was not required to enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Earlier Jayne Salt, head of the Crown Prosecution Service West Midlands complex casework unit, said: “Having carefully examined all of the available information which was submitted to us by the police, we have decided that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Paul Wilson with two counts of rape in relation to an investigation into the Little Stars Nursery in Nechells, Birmingham.”

Wilson had been working at the nursery for 18 months and yesterday shocked parents arrived to find it closed and guarded by police officers.

“We have evidence to suggest one offender and one victim” – Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani

The nursery remained closed this morning and a phone helpline has been setup for worried parents, however police have said that the evidence leads them to believe there is “only one offender and only one victim”.

Assistant Chief Constable Anil Patani said: “At this early stage we have evidence to suggest one offender and one victim and we are working very closely with that victim’s family.

“We are dealing with families currently at the nursery but also families of children who have been at the nursery at any time over the past 18 months. We could be talking about a large number of families – possibly into the 100s.”

The nursery, which opened in 2006, provides child care places for over 50 babies, toddlers and pre-school children.

The support number is: 0121 675 4806.