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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.
Locations and dates worked
- 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 School (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 – April 2022)
- The Girls & Boys Brigade – Surry Hills (November 2020)
- Gowrie NSW Erskineville Outside of School Hours Care (June 2018; February 2019)
- Gowrie NSW North Sydney Community VC (April 2023)
- Helping Hands – Bourke Street (March 2019 – April 2024)
- Helping Hands – Lane Cove West (April 2018 – September 2024)
- Helping Hands – North Ryde (May 2018 – August 2023)
- Helping Hands – St Ives Park Public School (December 2023 – May 2024)
- Helping Hands – Willoughby Public School (April 2018 – 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 – April 2022)
- KidsCo Australia – Virtual Holiday Program (July – August 2021)
- Knox Grammar High School (March 2018 – July 2020)
- Knox Grammar School OSHClub (May 2024)
- Manly Vale VC – Northern Beaches Council (April 2019 – July 2022)
- North Shore Coaching College (July 2023 – September 2024)
- OSHClub – Barker College (May 2018 – May 2024)
- OSHClub – Beaumont Road (May 2018 – April 2023)
- OSHClub – Fort Street (May 2018)
- OSHClub – Highfields (April – November 2018)
- OSHClub – Hornsby South (August 2018 – July 2023)
- OSHClub – Knox Grammar Preparatory (May 2018 – February 2020)
- OSHClub – Newington Lindfield (February 2020)
- OSHClub – Smalls Road (February 2022 – August 2023)
- Our Lady of Good Counsel OSHC – Forestville (August 2018 – March 2019)
- Our Lady of the Rosary OSHC – Waitara (October 2018)
- Primary OSHCare – Chatswood (September 2019 – March 2020)
- Primary OSHCare – Forestville (February 2021)
- Primary OSHCare – Frenchs Forest (September 2022)
- Primary OSHCare – Killarney Heights (January 2023)
- Primary OSHCare – Mowbray (March 2020 – May 2024)
- Primary OSHCare – St Ives (July 2021 – January 2024)
- Primary OSHCare – St Ives North (February – March 2024)
- Pyrmont OSHC – City of Sydney (October 2018 – July 2022)
- SCECS – OSHC Rose Bay (January – May 2023)
- St Kieran’s OSHC – Manly Vale (May 2018 – February 2019)
- St Martin’s Davidson OSHC (September 2018)
- St Mary’s OOSH – Erskineville (December 2020)
- Stanmore OSHC Service – Inner West Council (July – August 2018)
- TeamKids – ANZAC Park Public School (February 2021 – June 2023)
- TheirCare – Ravenswood School for Girls (May 2023)
- TheirCare – St Andrew’s Cathedral School (December 2020)
- Ultimo OSHC – City of Sydney (July 2018 – 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 – August 2023)
List of centres as at 1pm on July 31, 2025. Source: afp.gov.au
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