‘Dual life’: Sydney daycare worker jailed for abuse in multiple centres

A Sydney childcare worker led a “dual life” while he secretly filmed the abuse of nine children at several centres, a judge has said, as one victim’s mother shared her agonising pain, sleepless nights and ongoing mistrust in people.

Facing Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court via audiovisual link from custody on Thursday, David James sat emotionless as he was sentenced to 12 years’ prison with a seven-year non-parole period for four counts of using a child under 14 years to make child abuse material, three counts of doing and filming a sexual act with a child to create abuse material, four counts of producing or possessing child abuse material, and failing to provide device passwords to police.

The 27-year-old, through his escalating offending, egregiously abused a position of trust and authority for the purpose of sexual gratification, Judge Guy Newton said.

“James has led a dual life, one in private and one in public,” he said.

“In the community [he] was a pro-social young man who had actively pursued a career in policing, was well-engaged with others and was self-confident. However, in private [he] harboured deviant sexual interests … consistent with paedophilia.”

A compulsive pornography viewer, James was active on the dark web.

Newton said that while there was no evidence the children knew crimes had been committed, they may become aware later in life.

He pointed to remarks from a similar judgment on the “critical importance” of childcare centres, which support children to develop socially and emotionally as well as grow up in economic stability.

“It is vital that parents and other caregivers can have trust in childcare institutions,” Newton said.

“It is also difficult for children … to speak out because of their relative powerlessness to their adult carers. As a result, this form of offending can be very difficult to detect.”

The judge outlined a victim impact statement by one child’s mother, whose family’s life was “irreversibly changed”.

She said her children no longer attend after-school or holiday care, while she and her husband alternate leaving work early for school pick-up.

“As a consequence of this man, I no longer consider any person or place safe,” she wrote.

“I struggle to reconcile the idea that my children are safe anywhere other than with me or my husband.”

The woman said she lies awake worrying if her sons will be safe at school camp, tainting what should be fun and exciting.

She described feeling guilt “as a result of the whole experience” and hoped James would pay for his crimes to offer “some small reprieve”.

The identity of the former NSW Police probationary constable and Knox graduate, as well as the 58 centres he worked at casually, was suppressed for almost a year until the Herald successfully challenged a court order.

He pleaded guilty to child abuse charges between April 2021 and May 2024 at Pyrmont OSHC – City of Sydney; OSHClub – Barker College; Willoughby Kids House; Helping Hands – St Ives Park Public School; St Ives OSHC Centre – Kidzone; and Helping Hands – Lane Cove West. The children were aged between five and nine while James was between 22 and 26 years old. (There is a list of all the centres at which he worked at the bottom of this story.)

In a handwritten letter tendered to court James apologised “to the children who were unaware of my offending until police engaged with them in a conversation that should never have to take place”.

“I acknowledge the profound disbelief that someone so seemingly warm and caring could handle and expose you in the way I so selfishly did. For this, I am truly sorry,” he wrote.

Addressing his victims’ parents, James said he was “deeply ashamed” to have “contributed to the mistrust” of an “already-fragile institution” in “such an egregious way”.

“I acknowledge that finding care options for your children is difficult and time-consuming, and the impact of my actions may cause you to question even the best options available,” he said.

“This is further complicated by the heart-sinking moment you were asked to identify the image depicting someone so dear to you in a manner that is unthinkable.”

Many details of the crimes are too graphic to publish. However, a statement of facts tendered to court paint a disturbing picture.

While working at the centres, James completed his training at Goulburn police academy and began employment as a probationary officer.

In September 2024 AFP detectives were granted a search warrant for James’ Artarmon home after discovering he’d photographed a child in public and posted it to the dark web. James was at home with his brother and showed police to his bedroom.

There they found a silver Apple MacBook Air, a silver USB drive and a black Apple iPhone XR.

James was served with an enforcement order to provide his passwords but refused. He declined to do so a total of five times. He was arrested and charged with failing to comply with the order.

However, it did not take long for a digital forensics officer to crack the devices. They found myriad distressing content – 22 images and videos containing child abuse material of victims known to James. Confirming parents’ worst nightmares, police discovered James had recorded the children during his daycare shifts. Parents confirmed their identities.

Some content was recorded in “out of bounds” areas to children, including staff bathrooms.

After being released over his refusal to co-operate with police, James was re-arrested in October 2024 and has been in custody since.

Newton accepted James had a paedophilia disorder and at one point called a helpline, demonstrating awareness of his “problematic” thoughts.

James was banned from working at centres owned by Primary OSHCare’s parent company, Junior Adventures Group, but continued casual work with recruitment company Randstad because his Working With Children Check was not affected.

One count of using a child to make child abuse material was earlier withdrawn. With time already served, James will be eligible for parole in October 2031. He was placed on the NSW Child Protection Register for 15 years.

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