Sex offender wanting access

[Legality]

My ex husband has been arrested on several occasions for child sex offences and is waiting for a court appearance where he is likely to go on the sex register but still wants contact with our children. This has been going on for years and he did get access to the children but then got arrested again. And again he couldn’t see them. he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong so is likely to reoffend. He can’t get unsupervised access but wants to write to them. I think as they are settled without being in contact, they are better moving on without the disruption of him in and out f their lives. I don’t want them to know he’s a risk to them sexually because they are too young to cope with it. I need to keep my children safe and think getting letters will unsettle them. He’s never going to get access again. How can I protect my children?

CAFCAS are saying he can’t do any harm by writing but I am not home early so the children will get to the letters before me.

Depending how old the children are can you not let him write but keep the letters unopened until they are older and can make their own mind up whether they want to read them or not? Once you're in a position to explain the truth.

What do they think has happened to him?

The courts don't always go with CAFCASS recommendations. However, if the court orders indirect contact, you must not block that by keeping the letters unopened as the previous poster suggests. You could consider putting up an external mailbox - something we have done, albeit in our case it was to stop the dogs eating our mail! That way, your children won't get the letters until you are home. Or you could arrange for the letters to be sent to someone who will vet them before passing them on.

Sounds so difficult. Sending you lots of very unmumsnetty hugs.
I would get one of those letter cages or something non see through, like this
and I would keep the letters or read them myself first and decide what's appropriate.
Perhaps keeping for when they're older

Because he’s a cocaine user they think that’s the reason. He was given overnight access then went on to have a drugs party while they were there. I only found out because I was told by someone there

If the court orders indirect contact then you must allow that to happen. You cannot withhold letters.

In terms of how often the indirect contact is, I'm aware of examples where indirect contact is restricted to twice a year - basically Christmas and birthday.

If the children are old enough to be home and accessing their mail without you present they are old enough to know their dad is a sex offender.
You are not protecting them by not being honest with them. I say this as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse by a family member. They need to know the truth

ZOMBIE

How about specifying in the order that the letters are not addressed to the children but to you and that you have the right to read them first?