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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

He is a pedophile

146 replies

Friedbrain · 20/05/2014 19:16

Firstly, I apologise about the heading, I just didn't know how to word it.

I found out today that someone the children and I talk to is a convicted pedophile.
A parent at the school told me today, I asked how she knew and she had told me someone told her, she Google it and it was right there in front of my eyes.
A news website with him in it.

He has lots of dogs right next to the school, all the children talk to him about the dogs, think nice grandad down the park type.

I have obviously always been there when the children have spoken to him, and conversation is always about the dogs.

The children know about stranger danger and we have spoken lots about the under wear rule and feeling uncomfortable around someone and not to keep secrets in a very open way.

But how can you stop children talking to people..

Especially when this man is someone we see most days and they already know all the dogs names and stop and stroke them.

I am not a silly person.
I know about child protection and relevant laws etc...
Please don't knit pick about the heading or the spelling or something similar.

This is just a thread about how I discourage the children from talking to him..

I don't want them anywhere near him and they are not old enough to know why

What would you do?

OP posts:

Nomama · 20/05/2014 19:20

Call 101 and ask.

Do nothing else, talk to no one about it. Don't add to the grapevine gossip - you don't know what else may be going on.

But do talk to the police.

Meanwhile, keep a close eye on your kids and stay calm xx

neiljames77 · 20/05/2014 19:20

I'd be questioning why he's still allowed to live near a school.

SouthernComforts · 20/05/2014 19:20

Can you walk a different way to avoid his house?

coffeeandcream · 20/05/2014 19:21

That sounds really disturbing. Sorry to be blunt and suspicious, but my first thought was thd dogs are used as a way to attract the children in and a way to start off a conversation.

Does he have a valid reason to be at the school gates? Collecting his DC/GC? If not and given his history, surely thd school can insist he stay away?

SouthernComforts · 20/05/2014 19:22

And yy to being near a school. Calling 101 and telling them he is interacting with children walking past is a good idea.

Martorana · 20/05/2014 19:22

Are you absolutely sure it's true? Are there no restrictions on his movements- I thought that a convicted paedophile wouldn't be allowed to live near a school. Could you ask the police for advice?

Joules68 · 20/05/2014 19:23

You can't police who lives where! Thread are children everywhere, he's always going to have one nearby

rocketjam · 20/05/2014 19:23

I would speak to the school about it straight away. If the information is correct, I think that the school should know. You would 't be able to warn all the other parents / children about it. If there was a known and convicted paedophile talking to children at my kids' school I'd talk to the head about it and seek her/his advice.

gamerchick · 20/05/2014 19:23

Does he live next to the school? I would probably get some advice from official channels tbh.

Original poster

Friedbrain · 20/05/2014 19:27

The school has a big public green at the back that is next to the school playgrounds and also the local school park where everyone goes.

He goes to this park. He walks past the school gates to get to the park.

There is no way around him

It is definitely true as I saw it on the BBC news website.

I won't be discussing it with anyone else, hence why I am on here asking...

OP posts:

matildasquared · 20/05/2014 19:30

I think the idea of calling 101 and just asking the police what they think/advise is sensible.

Flexibilityiskey · 20/05/2014 19:30

I would also say ring 101 and speak to them about it. Joules, you can police where convicted paedophiles live, or at least who they interact, with if they are a risk to children. Obviously the police will have more information on whether he poses a risk, and can take steps to manage it if he does.

Floundering · 20/05/2014 19:31

But what did the news item say? Under suspicion or convicted?

OddFodd · 20/05/2014 19:31

Why won't you discuss it with anyone else? You should talk to the police for a start. And maybe the NSPCC too

OnaPromise · 20/05/2014 19:33

I agree that you should speak to police if you have valid grounds for concern. They will know what the score is and will speak to him/speak to the school if necessary.

CundtBake · 20/05/2014 19:33

Can I ask, are you in South London OP?

Only because when I was at school (in South London) there was an old man with lots of dogs who we would always see on the way home. He'd often 'fall over' and ask for our help but it was obvious he'd done it on purpose.

Surely if he's a convicted pedophile he shouldn't be living near a school let alone interacting with children? Id call 101 for advice

fingersonbuzzers · 20/05/2014 19:33

Yes, speak to the police.

I worked for the police a while ago and we had a Public Protection Team who were part of CID but whose job it was to basically monitor the whereabouts of sex offenders.

If you call 101 I would imagine they would be able to direct you to whatever your police force's equivalent of that team is. They may want to take a statement from you.

Original poster

Friedbrain · 20/05/2014 19:34

I was responding to a poster that had said don't start a grapevine affect....

OP posts:

fingersonbuzzers · 20/05/2014 19:34

I don't think the OP has said that he does live near the school, has she? Just that he goes there frequently.

Birdsgottafly · 20/05/2014 19:36

"Are you absolutely sure it's true? Are there no restrictions on his movements- I thought that a convicted paedophile wouldn't be allowed to live near a school. "

You would think so, but this isn't always the case, especially if MH is present, you would think that this would "up" the conditions whilst living in the community, but no, it doesn't.

He may be behaving legally.

If you want, then the parents can speak to the Head, all keep a diary of him being by the school etc then present it to Safeguarding.

The school should be teaching according to the safety advice given by the NSPCC.

There are probably many other "dangerous" people within a short walking distance of the school.

StealthPolarBear · 20/05/2014 19:36

Yes, as a convicted paedophile I think it's safe to say his intentions aren't innocent. call police for advice.

Cereal0ffender · 20/05/2014 19:37

His probation officer should stop this sort of thing. Definitely phone the police

fromparistoberlin73 · 20/05/2014 19:38

He should NOT be speaking with children, and he should be keeping a good distance, worth reporting discreetly just to share concern that he has been speaking to kids, using dogs??

yanbu OP

BridgeOfWhys · 20/05/2014 19:38

I would email the school a link to the news article and explain that he is living next to the school. They would like to be aware of him and may have more clout when dealing with the police.

Tinkerball · 20/05/2014 19:40

It is definitely true as I saw it on the BBC news website

I'm not saying its not true, but you need to be really careful otherwise an innocent mans life could be destroyed. Did you actually see his picture on a BBC news website?

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