To not want to buy school uniform from a paedophile

[UsernameRandom]

Have nc'd.

Ds started reception this year, and I bought his uniform in the summer. Shortly after, I read in the local news that the owner is a paedophile. He has admitted a series of offences and is awaiting sentencing.

He still lives above the shop. The conditions of his bail include not employing staff under the age of 18 and not being around children without their parents present amongst other things.

I now need extra uniform. I don't want to go near the shop, I don't want to give them my money. I feel sick that my child was trying on clothes in their changing room while he was there. No other shop sells it. Aibu? And wwyd?

[UsernameRandom]

Just been googling, it seems at least 2 of the other local schools they supplied have stopped using them. I'll go and see the head tomorrow and find out if they're changing too.

[TheStripyGruffalo]

I wouldn't go there either. I'd get the right colour stuff from ASDA or wherever and tell the school why. Having the stuff with the school logo on is optional anyway.

[kissmethere]

No I wouldn't spend money in his shop at all now. Generic uniform will have to do.

[SurlyCue]

Why can you not just buy uniform from Tesco/Asda/M&S/etc. like everyone else does?

Some schools arent catered for at asda/tesco etc.

[UsernameRandom]

I bought his trousers, pe stuff and spare polo shirts at the supermarket. I got a couple of logo polos and the sweatshirts from the uniform shop.

I know it isn't compulsory but all the other kids have them and I didn't really want him singled out.

Now though, I'm not concerned about that, he'll be getting plain sweatshirts.

[PHANTOMnamechanger]

Why can you not just buy uniform from Tesco/Asda/M&S/etc. like everyone else does?

presumably because the school has logoed items, only available in one store. My DDs secondary uniform is only available in one store 20 miles away, the local shops like M&S, BHS & supermarkets don't even sell the blouses and they are just plain sky blue so nothing too peculiar! DS's primary have plain white shirts and black trousers available anywhere, but only logoed sweatshirt and PE tops, only available to buy from the school. If you buy the plain coloured sweatshirt or cardi elsewhere, it marks the child out as different.

[UsernameRandom]

Good cross post there phantom

[summerbreezer]

Actually he might not be the owner but it's a family business and he still lives/works there.

As a criminal lawyer, I do not believe for one second that a convicted peadophile would be allowed to continue to work there, or indeed live above the shop.

The Crown would have bail conditions in place preventing him from going near the shop, and the liklihood is that on sentence he will receive a Sexual Offences Prevention Order preventing him from being unsupervised near children under 16.

It also now sounds that the shop may in fact belong to other family members rather than him. Why should his parents / wife / children be punished for what I did?

[summerbreezer]

Plus, surely if he has admitted a series of sexual offences the likilhood is that he will go to custody on sentencing, so it unlikely to be an issue anymore.

[fastdaytears]

The only paedophile who also owns a school uniform shop that Google can give me is locked up for the next few years.

Regardless, I wouldn't want to support the business.

[UsernameRandom]

Here it is.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Why should his parents / wife / children be punished for what I did?

Yes, this (ignoring the typo ).

Bad enough to discover your husband/son/father is a paedophile, deal with the arrest, trial punishment and press coverage. They don't deserve to lose their livelihood for something someone else did.

If concerned, ask the school to make sensitive enquiries to clarify the situation. The business might appreciate the opportunity to be able to reassure parents.

[UsernameRandom]

The conditions make it clear he is still allowed to work there summer

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

So he's an employee with a bail condition stipulating that he mustn't employ minors? (According to that link)

[UsernameRandom]

Which makes me think he's at least part owner strawberry

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Maybe it's a family business with a very hazy structure?

Speak to the school. If they have any sense they will be horrified by those by bail conditions and find a new authorised supplier.

If the family of the accused have any sense and want to keep their business they will find him somewhere else to live.

[sadwidow28]

Google the shop name OP, two primary schools have sent out parental letters (see if one of them is your DS' school).

Also the Local Authority has issued a statement.

[00100001]

I'm confised.

Does the man work there or not?

Or is he a "silent" partner of the business?

[00100001]

I'm amazed he still allowed to work in the shop.

The restrictions of "not allowed in changing rooms, not allowed to measure and not allowed to be alone with a child" seems... not enough.


I would have though he wouldn't be allowed near children at all

[UsernameRandom]

sad I did before, (mentioned it upthread) ours is a different school.