Former After-School Care Worker Charged Over Alleged Child Abuse Offenses

A 26-year-old man, David William James, has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly producing child abuse material while employed at six out-of-school hours (OOSH) care services in Sydney between April 2021 and May 2024.

Allegations and Arrest

• The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege that James used his position at after-school programs to access and exploit 10 children, all aged six and under.
• The offending material was reportedly located on the dark web, prompting a raid on his residence in September 2024, during which electronic devices were seized.
• James allegedly refused to provide device passcodes and was charged over the refusal.
• After digital forensic analysis, further charges were laid and James was remanded in custody from October 2024.
• Details of his case were released following the revocation of a court-issued non-publication order.

Police and Institutional Response

• James had been concurrently training as an NSW Police probationary constable between December 2021 and September 2022 and continued in a civilian role until May 2023.
• He was dismissed for failing to disclose his secondary employment in childcare—a breach of NSW Police approval requirements.
• Authorities confirmed the seriousness of the case and emphasized institutional failures to detect concurrent employment.

Community Impact

• The AFP and NSW Health have contacted approximately 1200 families, including those whose children were directly identified in the abuse material.
• Support services have been made available for affected families.
• A further 52 OOSH services that employed James were identified; authorities state there is currently no evidence of offending at those sites.

All impacted families have been contacted by the AFP, and police say the man has been in custody since October 2024 and does not pose a current threat to the community.

Full List Of Locations and Dates Where David Williams James Worked

Next Steps

• Investigations continue to map the scope of James' employment history and alleged activity.
• The AFP encourages concerned families to access public resources dedicated to the investigation.

Further Reading 

New Federal Laws Link Childcare Funding to Safety Standards
Sydney Educators Charged Over Alleged Toddler Assault
Queensland Sets National Benchmark for Childcare Safety Reform
Affinity Follows G8 Footsteps With CCTV Cameras
“Kindy Cops” and Cameras: Federal Crackdown on Childcare Safety

Reference:
26-Year-Old’s Sick Act At After-school Care: Cops