Police Release Details of Child Sexual Abuse Charges Against Former NSW Probationary Cop

The Australian Federal Police have charged David James with 13 different counts of offences between April 2021 and May 2024.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James addresses a press conference. Courtesy of the Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police have released details of the charges laid against a 26-year-old Australian childcare worker, named as David James, and listed the childcare centres at which he had worked, but they stress there is no evidence of any further offending.

He faces 10 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 to make child abuse material, nine of which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment; two counts of possessing child abuse material, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years; and one count of contravening the requirements of a warrant—to provide passcodes to his phone—which has a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

The AFP alleges James produced child abuse material of 10 victims, aged six and under, during his employment at six out-of-school hours (OOSH) care services in the northern suburbs of Sydney and the CBD between April 2021 and May 2024.

Police released a list of 58 centres and school facilities that James worked at between 2018 and 2024 across Sydney, but say they believe the alleged offences occurred at just six of them, with “no evidence” to suggest anything occurred at the others.

A non-publication order was granted by the New South Wales (NSW) Local Court on Oct. 12 last year, to allow investigators to undertake a comprehensive victim identification process and contact the parents and carers of the children identified in the child abuse material.

This order has now been lifted by the courts, allowing police to communicate openly for the first time with the community on the man’s alleged offending.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James said James’ “working with children” certification was “taken off him” after the first search warrant was executed by authorities.

“AFP investigators have carefully scrutinised the available evidence to identify the scale and scope of the alleged offending,” he told a press conference. “There is no evidence to suggest the man’s alleged offending took place in out-of-school-hours facilities or other care providers which have not yet been contacted by law enforcement.

“If parents are concerned, please visit the website dedicated to supporting families and the community seeking further information about the AFP investigation.”

James first came to the attention of authorities in June last year in a report from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) about material on the dark web.

He was employed as a probationary constable in the New South Wales Police from December 2021 to September 2022 but failed to complete the process, and was instead employed in a civilian role until May 2023.