<\/p>\n
A former police officer who was secretly working in childcare has admitted taking explicit photos and videos of children younger than 10 when they were in his care.<\/p>\n
David William James created the child abuse material while working at six out-of-school hours (OOSH) care services in Sydney\u2019s north and city centres between April 2021 and May 2024.<\/p>\n
James worked with children as far back as 2018 across 58 different after-school and vacation care services across Sydney, according to police.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old is in custody having faced 31 charges, including 17 counts related to the production of child abuse material and seven counts of doing a sexual act with a child that is filmed for child abuse material.<\/p>\n
The allegations include that he filmed children \u2013 the youngest of whom was only four years old \u2013 while they were partially undressed and masturbated in their presence.<\/p>\n
On Friday, James pleaded guilty to 11 charges related to the production and possession of child abuse material, and doing a sexual act with children to produce child sex abuse material.<\/p>\n
He beamed into court from a custody cell as he confirmed his guilty pleas.<\/p>\n
Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n Prosecutors subsequently withdrew the remaining 20 charges against the former probationary constable in Sydney\u2019s Downing Centre local court.<\/p>\n He will return to the New South Wales<\/a> district court on 30 January to learn when he will be sentenced.<\/p>\n James had been employed as a probationary constable but, after failing to pass his probation, continued in a civilian capacity until his resignation in May 2023.<\/p>\n NSW police said they were unaware he was working in the childcare sector at the same time.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old came to the attention of Australian federal police investigators after they found the child abuse material on the dark web, tracing it back to him in June 2024.<\/p>\n About 1,200 parents at the six centres where the alleged offences took place were contacted by federal investigators.<\/p>\n But it was revealed that James worked casually at nearly 60 centres over several years, including some of Sydney\u2019s most elite schools, sparking widespread concern from parents.<\/p>\n James\u2019s arrest sparked calls for better information-sharing about staff amid a nationwide reckoning in the childcare sector spurred on by the arrests of childcare workers in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.<\/p>\n The NSW premier, Chris Minns, flagged tougher working-with-children requirements in August and childcare operators say a national register is a top priority, along with real-time notifications of staff under investigation.<\/p>\n In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline<\/a> on 1800 55 1800; adult survivors can seek help at Blue Knot Foundation<\/a> on 1300 657 380. In the UK, the NSPCC<\/a> offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac<\/a>) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp<\/a> abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helpline International<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n