Man in court on suspicion of creating and owning child (and animal) porn lives on same street as DS's primary school

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Just read in the local news that a man who lives in the same street as DS's school has been charged with a series of pornography offences. He has been bailed pending the case being heard at a Crown Court later in the year. He has pleaded not guilty, saying that the images were already on his PC when he bought it.

I am in two minds whether to ask the head whether she has received any advice from the local police about it, or ask her to do an updated "stranger danger" talk in school. Or whether to stand by my firmly held "innocent until proven guilty" stance, meaning that unless the man is convicted it would be wrong to assume his guilt by having this conversation with the head.

WWYD?

Innocent until proven guilty - hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

If you rely on that premise, especially when thinking of things surrounding rape and sexual abuse, then you are being niave in the extreme.

Do you know how low the conviction rate is for things reported to the police?

Re stranger danger, that is more dangerous in itself, in the main - strangers arent the real danger.

Sorry, I genuinely didnt mean to be so sarcastic.

We have started our own area group. Speak to the HT, anything to help allay your fears isn't a waste of time. Chat with the other parents, don't get the pitchforks and torches out but keep an eye on the guy.

I don't wish to scare you but most abusers are known to the child/family, it makes grooming easier. Keep open channels of conversation with your children age appropriate of course and yes, ask for the HT to invite the police to do a stranger danger talk, our school had one and it was very effective with the kids enjoying every moment but the message was definitely put across just not in a frightening way x

Things, thanks

NP i hope it helps.. fwiw i also agree with izzy.. the most danger posed to children are people closer to them.
The local police or SS are connected to the local schools under a sort of umbrella child protection agency so any information should have already been shared as part of a risk assessment of this man, but it won't hurt for the HT to hear it twice lol

You have a right to make sure your kids are safe xx

I've emailed the head, waiting for a reply....

He has pleaded not guilty, saying that the images were already on his PC when he bought it.

He won't have pleaded yet if it is going to the crown court.