Former colleague a possible sex offender

[Ginnymweasley]

This is a strange one. This weekend a friend of mine forwarded me a story about a man who was jailed for 6 years in 2010 for sexually abusing a young girl. He sent me it because the name of the man is the same as an ex colleague of him and my dh's. Now as there was no picture at first I wondered if it was just a coincidence but when me and my dh spoke about it he told me that the age and town matched what this guy had told my dh and his name is unusual for our area.
My dh mentioned it to his boss and they claimed to know nothing about it and said they would look into it.
The man in question left the business about 6 months ago but this time last year my dh took our dd to work with him cause I was ill. Now my dd never left my dh while she was there. How could the boss not have known? Do they not have to disclose something like that? My dh isn't happy cause he gave the guy lifts, picked him up from hospital etc and he hates that he was potentially lied to. Just feeling very confused by it all.

Why would you expect your DH to be given confidential information about another employee? It’s really none of his business.

Ok so maybe he shouldn't be told but they could have said not to bring our 3yr old dd in when he asked if it was ok surely?

But you don't even know for definite if it's the same person ??

I’m confused, you said work didn’t know...so they didn’t know

Your dd was never left alone with him

A colleague is not entitled to know any confidential information about another one

I don't think you have a leg to stand on. You are not the Crimewatch Woman are you ?

I'm not going to do anything. It's just made us feel uneasy that's all.

Well it's not the "norm" to bring children to work. So he may have been ok to work as it was with other adults whom he was not a risk to.

They company didn't know though, so I'm struggling to see the issue with the employer. If they didn't ask for a dbs or for him to disclose any criminal convictions they were never going to know.

I also just wondered how his work wouldn't know. Is this not something that would have to be disclosed? My dh got to know this man very well over a year and like I say offered him help and advice so if this is all true surely it's reasonable for him to be slightly annoyed.

Unfortunately there really are sex offenders "on every corner"

Follow the usual safeguarding rules, teach your daughter how to deal with unwanted attention as she grows up and all will be well (hopefully)

Nobody has a duty to disclose anything to you unless the person you are concerned about has direct unsupervised contact with your child, which they didn’t.

I know this because I have to live next door to a convicted sex offender. Until this house sells at least.

I rang the police under Sarah’s Law but they couldn’t tell me anything.

Anyfucker is right, they’re everywhere.

Look. The guy serving in the corner shop could be a sex offender. Your DH (potentially) was nice to one. They don't come with helpful signs on them or present like constant mac flashers etc...more is the pity. Most sex offenders come across like normal folk.

Do they not have to disclose something like that?

Not if it's a role that doesn't require a DBS check. Even if the role does require an enhanced check the employer should not share that information with multiple random employees.

he hates that he was potentially lied to

In what way was your dh lied to? Had he been told this person was trustworthy?

Moral of the story - anybody you meet could potentially be dangerous (neighbours, colleagues, family members, friends, strangers) but the great majority are not. Safest just not to leave your 3 year old dd alone with anyone you haven't got reason to trust.

Ok I sent realise that you didn't have to disclose the fact that you were in prison to employers I just presumed you had to. I've never dealt with anyone who has been to prison.

Maybe he did disclose it (even if you have the correct bloke). He may be barred from certain jobs. Should he not ever be employed again in case someone brings a child into the workplace ?

(Believe you me...I never stick up for sex offenders but you are BU in this scenario)

Even if employers knew, they absolutely should not disclose it to anyone.

Your DD was with your dh, nothing happened. Be concerned about the sex offenders that you don't know about and be accordingly vigilant.

I've never dealt with anyone who has been to prison

It's very likely that you have without knowing it and you have almost certainly had many dealings with people with criminal convictions. About 1 in 4 men in the UK have a criminal conviction (not counting driving offences. They don't all have a label.

Even IF it is the same person his prison history is confidential. You don't even know if it's the same person, this is how the wrong people get targeted, I expect you have come into contact with offenders but like others say you wouldn't know.