Thank you so much for the response. We did absolutely did not catch it in time. The pinion ground through the outside housing and into the chainring shearing of the small screw on the back of the chainring which held the plastic chainguard secure.

The pinion now sticks through the hole it bored in its housing and has significant play in it.

Next steps here will be to open it up to pull the nylon cog and pinion to inspect.

Will report.

Cheers - J