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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Convicted pedophile working in supermarket aibu?

142 replies

youmeatseven · 08/10/2018 15:21

I worked in a supermarket (big chain, green logo) a few years ago and one of my colleagues at the time was arrested and charged with various sexual offences against children (under 10) and animals. He admitted what he done (the worst of the worst) and was placed on the sex offenders register, given a community payback order and a fine. Imagine my shock today to go into the store for the first time in over 2 years to find him stacking shelves, still employed by the supermarket.

I left my trolley, got the name of the store manager and left the shop feeling sick to my stomach.

AIBU to complain about this and ask the store managers if they are aware of his history (he's probably still doing it) or should I just leave it? I can't believe he still has a job let alone in a very busy supermarket

OP posts:
PinkHeart5914 · 08/10/2018 15:25

I can’t see why he wouldn’t be allowed to work in a supermarket tbh, it’s not like his in a caring position of vulnerable people. His crimes were of course horrific but wouldn’t stop him working in a supermarket surely

Why shouldn’t he work? Is the government meant to fit the bill in benefits for him to live? If his able bodied of course he should bloody well be in work

Yes you should just leave it you can’t really be calling the store to inform them of the past, chances are they know anyway

bridgetreilly · 08/10/2018 15:28

YABU. Your feelings about him are irrelevant.

He's entitled to work, as are all convicted criminals. He would not be permitted to work with children, but stacking shelves in a supermarket is not a danger to anyone and any appropriate checks should have been done during the application process for the job.

Whereisthecoffee · 08/10/2018 15:28

I wouldn’t like it at all.

Feefeetrixabelle · 08/10/2018 15:29

I get your concern. He’s in a position where he can interact with children on a daily basis. But that interaction is not in a way where the children are at risk.

I would rather he was locked up and the key thrown away but that’s not what’s happened here. So he has to work because I’m fucked if my taxes will pay for him to do nothing. But your well within your rights to contact Asda with your concerns. And ask them to advise what measures they’ve put in place to protect their customers.

Shoxfordian · 08/10/2018 15:30

He's not working with vulnerable people and he has to work somewhere
Yabu

Areyoufree · 08/10/2018 15:30

It was the "worst of the worst", but he only got a fine and a community payback order (had to Google that - still not sure I quite get it)?

That's a tricky situation. It's all well and good to say that someone has served their time, but I would find it hard to work alongside someone who had been convicted of child abuse. I'm sorry you are in this situation - although I don't really see that there's a lot you can do.

Twillow · 08/10/2018 15:31

If it was the worst of the worst surely he would have been imprisoned? I'm ok with him working per se but maybe check with you store HR that he has disclosed.

steff13 · 08/10/2018 15:31

He abused children and animals and didn't get any prison time? Did I understand that correctly? Yikes.

As far as working at the grocery, I don't know how I feel about it.

hazell42 · 08/10/2018 15:32

If all he got a was fine then it certainly wasnt the worst of the worst. People can be on the sex offenders register for all sorts of things that would have been thought harmless years ago - mooning for example or sexting between teenagers of the same age. The supermarket would not be entitled to carry out a dbs for a shelf stacker and if you told them they would not be able to take your word for it if you went in and spoke to them.
At the end if the day he has been dealt with by the courts and is entitled to make a fresh start. If you dont like it, shop elsewhere

Fontofnoknowledge · 08/10/2018 15:32

Can I just clarify ...
charged with various sexual offences against children (under 10) and animals. He admitted what he done (the worst of the worst) and was placed on the sex offenders register, given a community payback order and a fine.

Did he go to prison . ?

Purpleartichoke · 08/10/2018 15:34

That’s exactly the kind of job he should be working. Lots of people. Not caring for anyone in a vulnerable state. No access to people’s homes. Well-lit. Probably security cameras everywhere.

BigChocFrenzy · 08/10/2018 15:35

Do you mean convicted of pornography involving children and animals ?

manicinsomniac · 08/10/2018 15:35

I can understand your feelings but, to be fair, he has to work somewhere and supermarkets are pretty good choices as far as being low risk to children and animals go.

The only potential problem I can see if lost children but that could happen almost anywhere.

amicissimma · 08/10/2018 15:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OftenHangry · 08/10/2018 15:39

It surely wasn't worst of the worst. By the punishment it actually looks like possession of indecent photograps of childern and not the really abd ones (the thought of that makes me bit sick tbh).

Working is actually part of the therapy too. If he can't be alone with a child, it's ok. We can't ship these people to deserted islands(unfortunately?).

LibraryLurker · 08/10/2018 15:39

He needs to work. Anyway when you are in any public place, any other CUSTOMER could be a paedophile for all you know. If he is in a uniformed role, working somewhere with a lot of security cameras, he is quite low risk in my estimation. Also I do not buy the "worst of the worst" but no prison time. I am aware of someone who got over 2 years inside and it was all internet contact, no physical contact with a child at all. This does not add up.

trulybadlydeeply · 08/10/2018 15:40

I agree that he should be working, if able, and should not be living on benefits if fit to work. His contact with the public is in a very open, well lit place, and as a PP mentioned, there will be cctv everywhere.

In a sense he's "less" of a threat, as you know what he has done, he's been caught and been punished. It's the ones who haven't been caught who are the biggest danger, and that's us parents must ensure that they teach their children about "stranger danger", what is appropriate and what is not, and above all, to tell us, or another trusted adult, if anything untoward happens.

AuntBeastie · 08/10/2018 15:41

While I completely understand how shocking this was for you, I don’t know that you can do much. Paedophiles who aren’t in prison are allowed to work, and this job doesn’t put him in any proximity to children and animals. It’s as good as any in that respect. But YANBU to find the experience horrible and upsetting.

Fontofnoknowledge · 08/10/2018 15:45

I can't help but feel that there is a bit of a drama going on here. Firstly we have a system of punishment in this country that means once your punishment has been completed then you have paid your debt to society. - with exceptions for the long term safety of the society. (Sex register)

He has done that and now despite serving his sentence and not being allowed to work in certain areas (which he isn't) then you would want him further punished by losing his job - leaving my tax money to support him. No thanks.

Don't agree 'worst of the worst'. You are over dramatising. Worst of the worst is child rape (in the sexual offences category) and that carries a mandatory 7-14yrs custodial.

Don't make a habit of letting supermarket shelf stackers mind your child - then all will be well.

ApolloandDaphne · 08/10/2018 15:46

I imagine he was convicted of possessing indecent images rather than any contact offence. Not great but not the worst of the worst.

I am sure all relevant checks were done on him and his employers are aware of his background.

He needs to work somewhere and in a supermarket he won't be alone with children or vulnerable people.

Tinkobell · 08/10/2018 15:49

He sounds absolutely revolting. But I'm glad my tax isn't paying for his unemployment benefit OP and that my tax is spent on worthwhile people who need it.

Redglitter · 08/10/2018 15:51

What's to say the Manager isn't perfectly aware of his background but feels this is a suitable job for him. Better that than sitting at home doing nothing and claiming benefits.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 08/10/2018 15:51

I am in full agreement with. However despite his ridiculously lenient sentence in the eyes of the law and employment laws his time is spent. Like I say that I can't stress this enough that's not to say I'm not completely on your side. I wouldn't like to think I was in that particular supermarket with my nephews while that beast was in there.

Xiaoxiong · 08/10/2018 15:51

I would think a supermarket would be the ideal place. Every inch of the store covered by CCTV, onsite security/loss prevention, almost nowhere to hide or escape because they're trying to prevent shoplifting, colleagues are unlikely to bring their kids to work, not a desk job where the temptation to go online is there all day, not in a position of trust or sole care vis a vis children or animals.

If he's served the sentence he was given, then he needs to get on with his life and work for a living.

RomanyRoots · 08/10/2018 15:51

He has rights to work, why wouldn't he be able to?
Surely if he'd done unspeakable things he'd be inside with a short/long term sentence.
Better he works stacking shelves than with children or animals.