David William James, 26, (not pictured) has been charged with allegedly producing child abuse material through his employment at out-of-school hours care (OSHC) facilities between April 2021 and May 2024.
The after-school-care worker who was a serving police officer at the time allegedly produced child abuse material of 10 pre-school-aged victims (all under 6).
Below is a list of locations the Artarmon man has been employed at and over what time period.
• Beacon Hill Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – December 2018
• Camp Australia – St Lukes Grammar School – April 2018
• Cromer Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – January 2020
• Forestville Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – July 2018 – April 2022
• Manly Vale VC – Northern Beaches Council – April 2019 – July 2022
• Primary OSHCare – Forestville – February 2021
• Primary OSHCare – Frenchs Forest – September 2022
• Primary OSHCare – Killarney Heights – January 2023
• St Kierans OSHC – Manly Vale – May 2018 – February 2019
• Uniting OSHC Brookvale – July 2023
The 26-year-old man allegedly took explicit photos of the victims while working at six out-of-school care service providers in the northern suburbs of Sydney and the city centre between April 2021 and May 2024.
Update: It was later revealed the alleged offences occurred at:
- OSHClub – Barker College
- Willoughby Kids House
- St Ives OSHC Centre – Kidzone
- Helping Hands – St Ives Park Public School
- Pyrmont OSHC – City of Sydney
He came to the attention of Australian Federal Police investigators after they found the material on the dark web, tracing it back to him in June 2024.
Digital forensic investigators were able to crack into the man’s devices after he was initially charged over refusing to provide his passwords.
Details of the investigation were revealed on Thursday after court-issued non-publication orders were revoked.
The man has been remanded in custody since October 2024.
AFP acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James said police were vigilant in catching offenders lurking on the dark web.
“These pedophiles seem to think they can work under the cover of the dark web,” he told reporters.
“The AFP can see you … if you think you’re under the cover of darkness, you’re not and we’re coming after you.”
Investigators examined 142,000 files totalling about 19 gigabytes to comb through the child-abuse material.
Some 1200 parents at the six centres where the alleged offences took place were contacted by federal investigators.
The Artarmon man is alleged to have offended at six locations but parents at 52 other locations, including some of Sydney’s most elite schools, where he worked on a casual basis have been notified.
NSW Police said the man was employed as a probationary constable from December 2021 to September 2022.
After he failed to successfully complete his probation, he continued in a civilian capacity until his resignation in May 2023.
Police said they were unaware he was working in the childcare sector at the same time.
The assistant commissioner noted the community should be aware that offenders do not fit a specific profile.
Federal police said the man did not pose a current threat to the community.
Police have listed 58 centres where James worked between 2018 and his arrest in 2024. Police did not identify the six centres where the alleged offences took place.
– Artarmon Before and After School Care – Willoughby City Council – June 2019
– Bales Park OOSH Services – December 2018
– Beacon Hill Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – December 2018
– Camp Australia – Artarmon February – December 2022
– Camp Australia – St Andrew’s Cathedral – June 2018
– Camp Australia – St Luke’s Grammar School – April 2018
– Chatswood ASC & VC – Willoughby City Council – November 2018
– Cromer Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – January 2020
– Cubby House – Artarmon June – August 2019
– Forestville Vacation Care – Northern Beaches Council – July 2018 to April 2022
– The Girls and Boys Brigade – Surry Hills – November 2020
– Gowrie NSW – Erskineville OOSH Care – June 2018 to February 2019
– Gowrie NSW – North Sydney Community VC – April 2023
– Helping Hands – Bourke Street – March 2019 to April 2024
– Helping Hands – Lane Cove West – April 2018 to September 2024
– Helping Hands – North Ryde – May 2018 to August 2023
– Helping Hands – St Ives Park Public School – December 2023 to May 2024
– Helping Hands – Willoughby Public School – April 2018 to December 2022
– Hornsby South Before and After School Care – May 2018
– Jigsaw – Anzac Park Public School – May 2018
– KGV OSHC – City of Sydney – November 2018 to April 2022
– KidsCo Australia – Virtual Holiday Program – July to August 2021
– Knox Grammar High School – March 2018 to July 2020
– Knox Grammar School OSHClub – May 2024
– Manly Vale VC – Northern Beaches Council – April 2019 to July 2022
– North Shore Coaching College – July 2023 to September 2024
– OSHClub – Barker College – May 2018 to May 2024
– OSHClub – Beaumont Road – May 2018 to April 2023
– OSHClub – Fort Street – May 2018
– OSHClub – Highfields – April to November 2018
– OSHClub – Hornsby South – August 2018 to July 2023
– OSHClub – Knox Grammar Preparatory – May 2018 to February 2020
– OSHClub – Newington Lindfield – February 2020
– OSHClub – Smalls Road – February 2022 to August 2023
– Our Lady of Good Counsel OSHC – Forestville – August 2018 to March 2019
– Our Lady of the Rosary OSHC – Waitara October 2018
– Primary OSHCare – Chatswood – September 2019 to March 2020
– Primary OSHCare – Forestville – February 2021
– Primary OSHCare – Frenchs Forest – September 2022
– Primary OSHCare – Killarney Heights – January 2023
– Primary OSHCare – Mowbray – March 2020 to May 2024
– Primary OSHCare – St Ives – July 2021 to January 2024
– Primary OSHCare – St Ives North – February to March 2024
– Pyrmont OSHC – City of Sydney – October 2018 to July 2022
– SCECS McAuley Rose Bay OSHC – Rose Bay – January to May 2023
– St Kieran’s OSHC – Manly Vale – May 2018 to February 2019
– St Martin’s Davidson OSHC – September 2018
– St Mary’s OOSH – Erskineville – December 2020
– Stanmore OSHC Service – Inner West Council July to August 2018
– TeamKids – ANZAC Park Public School – February 2021 to June 2023
– TheirCare – Ravenswood School for Girls – May 2023
– TheirCare – St Andrew’s Cathedral School – December 2020
– Ultimo OSHC – City of Sydney – July 2018 to September 2024
– Uniting OSHC Brookvale – July 2023
– West Lindfield Getaway – Vacation Care – Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council – April 2018
– Willoughby Kids House – July 2023
– YMCA Bankstown City – July 2018
– YMCA NSW – Lycee Condorcet – July to August 2023
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Story by AAP, with Kim Smee
