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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to buy school uniform from a paedophile

83 replies

UsernameRandom · 18/10/2015 13:27

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?

OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 18/10/2015 17:07

I would be speaking to the school, rightly or wrongly I wouldn't want to be spending my money is a shop that knowing continued to employ someone like that even if the court order allows it.

Booyaka · 18/10/2015 17:22

I find it really odd this case hasn't been reported anywhere. OP, are you slightly changing the details so that where you live can't be identified? Or are there reporting restrictions in place until after sentencing?

Judging from the other case though it seems extremely likely that he has been continued to live above the shop.

Booyaka · 18/10/2015 17:26

Incidentally OP, I notice you say that you want your child to have the logos so he isn't the 'odd one out'. I suspect in the circumstances that you may very well find the children who do have logos are going to be the odd ones out.

Original poster
UsernameRandom · 18/10/2015 17:27

Booyaka I've linked the newspaper report. I haven't changed a thing.

OP posts:
gBean · 18/10/2015 17:28

Ds2's school have recently started to have their uniform available from tesco. You order online and it comes with correct logo etc. The school gets a small percentage of all sales and the uniform has worked our slightly cheaper. Perhaps mention to school?

richmama · 18/10/2015 17:52

I do wonder how the school will react. After all many schools continue to use resources from Sparklebox and there are similar issues there (with convictions not just rumour).

fastdaytears · 18/10/2015 17:56

Ugh I had NO idea about Sparklebox. How horrible.

Booyaka · 18/10/2015 18:00

Oh, sorry OP. When I read your comment about it being a different school above I thought that you were referring to it being a different school to the one in the article altogether, not to the ones who had stopped using it.

I think you will probably be best having a word with the school and asking them if they will be changing suppliers. If the answer is no then I would go to a supermarket, I suspect most other parents will so your son won't stand out.

For other people who are saying why should his wife (although we have no idea if he is even married), family etc involved with the shop suffer because of what he has done. Well I would say the fact that they are continuing to employ him despite knowing what he has done and that he is a risk, is a pretty damn good reason.

Bubbletree4 · 18/10/2015 18:08

Maybe you can ask parents of bigger children if you can buy any outgrown uniform off them?

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 18/10/2015 18:15

YANBU. Ask the school to change.

Having looked at the company info available it seems that this is not a limited company so the "employed" bit is probably just inaccurate reporting.

More info here: companycheck.co.uk/nonLimitedCompany/3380724/M--R-FASHIONS/executive

and here: www.checksure.biz/company/M+&+R+FASHIONS-nl16933462.htm

I really wouldn't worry about any possible wife or children. He didn't worry about them when he was not only distributing images of children being abused but actually making them too. He will probably get a custodial sentence and then he won't be able to run his business any way so it doesn't matter if there are customers or not in that scenario. If his family choose to stand by him then that's their choice and they live with the consequences where plenty of people will refuse to do business with him. If they disown him and go it alone then it makes no odds unless they take over the business.

MrsDiesel · 18/10/2015 18:19

I knew it was going to be that shop, I am local too but will be buying generic correct coloured uniform from now on. Your DC will definitely not be the only child.

HermioneWeasley · 18/10/2015 18:21

Bleurgh, of course YANBU to not want such a vile man to profit fm your hard earned money.

HermioneWeasley · 18/10/2015 18:24

I can't believe his bail conditions allow him to work with children. Child protection /judicial treatment of paedophiles is a fucking joke in this country. That's why people resort to vigilante justice - because sick fucks like this are treated so lightly.

CrohnicallyAspie · 18/10/2015 19:39

rich I was informed (by the council) that sparkle box was ok again, that the convicted was no longer associated with it. It was on our banned list but was reinstated some time ago. Is that not the case?

Hotpotpie · 18/10/2015 20:03

I've got a feeling you live where I do. If that's the case the sports/trophy shop close by stocks everything he did to my knowledge and the schools also tend to have a stock of anything you need

richmama · 18/10/2015 20:15

CrohnicallyAspie - thank you for your post. I investigated it last year or the year before. I thought the felon was a silent partner so still benefitted financially and that was the ongoing issue. So that may have changed. Did your council give you anything in writing?

Original poster
UsernameRandom · 18/10/2015 20:31

Thanks hot, I've just checked and we're not on the list Sad

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 18/10/2015 20:32

Not that I remember, and I can't remember the exact details of it as it was a few years ago now, so before your investigations. I do remember when it was originally banned (must be 7 or 8 years ago that happened) something about a chat forum? And the downloadable toolbox?

But we were told a few (maybe 4) years ago that we could resume accessing the main site, and whereas the site was blocked before (so if we did try to access it from work, we got a 'you do not have permission to view this page' type error message come up), it was unblocked again.

sakura · 18/10/2015 20:38

Why are people going on about cameras? He probably gets off on the very idea of kids changing in his shop. Or maybe he gets off on ordering the clothes. Who the hell wants to give him the benefit ofthe doubt? The mind boggles at a world that allows paedophiles in such close proximity to children. The OP is protesting in the only way she knows how, meaning that those in authority who should close him down are not doing so for reasons known only to themselves..

leccybill · 18/10/2015 20:42

There is no way I'd be setting foot in that shop, ever.
Generic uniform all the way. My DD prefers Asda soft knit cardis over the school logoed bulky ones anyway.

I am quite local to you OP (

Booyaka · 18/10/2015 20:46

Hermione, I agree. One of the things that really shocked me was one of his bail conditions is to 'ensure that all children in the shop are accompanied by a responsible adult'. So the person who is responsible for making sure vulnerable children are not alone with him is...him. Perhaps it would be more understandable if he was a supervised employee. But not in this sense. He should be banned from the shop altogether. Not just told to behave himself.

SurlyCue · 18/10/2015 20:56

Yes those conditions seem very odd. They are phrased oddly. I dont understand why not a total ban from him being in the store considering the nature of the business -children undressing on the premises!

HermioneWeasley · 18/10/2015 21:38

Surly - it beggars belief doesn't it? Whose rights exactly are we protecting?

MrsJayy · 18/10/2015 21:43

I wouldnt want to give them my money either speak to the school about it is it specific uniform or can you do as suggested by a pp go to tesco or somewhere and get the colours

CrapBag · 18/10/2015 21:46

Ugh YANBU OP.

I have heard Tesco will get their uniforms embroidered, something to look into maybe.

I know what you mean about the logos, my DS didn't want the non logo stuff because he didn't want to be different. Most children do have logo uniforms so I will buy it but I'd never buy from a paedophile.

Our local Go Kart place is owned by a paedophile. DS has asked to go there, it will be a cold day in hell that I take him.

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