ALEXANDER PHILO'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN LONDON: PETER PAN NANNY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
In a disturbing case that has shocked the London community, Alexander Philo, a man who once advertised himself as a caring and professional nanny, has been convicted of heinous sexual offenses involving young children.The crimes span over a period of years, during which Philo exploited the trust of a single mother and her two young sons, ultimately leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction.
Philo, aged 36 and known to reside in Earls Court, London, had presented himself online as a fully-trained male nanny specializing in early childhood care, education, and development.
His advertisements claimed he was nurturing, reassuring, and supportive, qualities he used to attract families seeking childminding services.
One such ad read: “I am a fully-trained and experienced male nanny.
I specialise in early years care, education and development,” emphasizing his supposed expertise and attentive nature.
In September 2017, Philo established a relationship with a mother living in London, who had two young boys aged six and seven.
To gain her trust, he falsely claimed to be studying for a master’s degree in childhood anthropology at Brunel University.
This deception was part of his calculated grooming process, which ultimately led to the sexual abuse of her children.
Unbeknownst to the mother, Philo was on bail at the time for an earlier allegation of sexual assault involving a seven-year-old child.
Although he was acquitted of that charge at Southwark Crown Court on June 13, 2018, the damage had already been done.
Following reports of his crimes, police launched a thorough investigation into Philo’s activities.
During this process, authorities uncovered that he was also linked to an alleged historic sexual offense committed in 2003 against a six-year-old boy.
Rather than admitting to his past crimes, Philo denied any involvement, leading to a lengthy seven-week trial where the victims and their families were forced to relive their trauma as they provided evidence in court.
Despite his denials, a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing all three victims.
Senior Crown prosecutor Kunal Davé described Philo as a man with a clear sexual interest in young boys, noting that he acted on these desires over several years.
Davé explained, “He preyed upon a single mother, gaining her trust by calling himself the ‘Peter Pan nanny’ and aimed to present himself as attentive and nurturing to prospective employers.
Philo-Steele carried out a calculated campaign where he groomed and manipulated these young boys to satisfy his sexual appetite.” On July 25, at Kingston Crown Court, Alexander Philo was sentenced to a 14-year extended prison term.
This sentence includes a 12-year custodial period, with an additional two years added for nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration.
The court’s decision marks a significant step in removing a dangerous predator from the streets, ensuring he can no longer pose a threat to children.
Prosecutor Davé expressed hope that the sentence would bring some measure of relief to the victims and their families, stating, “A sexual predator has now been taken off the streets where he can no longer harm young children.
I hope this prosecution provides some comfort to the victims and their families.” Earlier in May 2019, Philo, then aged 35, was convicted after a seven-week trial of 11 counts of sexual assault on children.
The court heard that his offending began as early as 2003, when he befriended a six-year-old boy at a family friend’s birthday party and later sexually abused him at his flat.
Although he was arrested that year, the case was discontinued due to insufficient evidence.
It was only reopened last year after additional victims came forward.
Between June and October 2018, Philo sexually assaulted two brothers aged six and seven, having previously established a relationship with their mother.
He was arrested on October 12, 2018, and charged following a detailed investigation.
During the trial, it was revealed that Philo had been working as a nanny and promoting his services online through a website he created called governorandnanny, where he marketed himself as the ‘Peter Pan Nanny.’ His actions have left a lasting scar on the victims and serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who exploit trust for their own depraved purposes.
