Is there still an issue with Sparklebox?

[Tailtwister]

DS1 has been sent home with writing worksheets which have 'Sparklebox' written on them. I recalled reading about there being an issue with the owner of the company, but wondered if he's still involved.

Does anyone else's school use Sparklebox resources? I was under the impression from previous threads that most schools had stopped using them, but maybe something has changed since?

I agree with Jinglebitch. Once someone has served their sentence, regardless of the crime, then they have had their punishment. The legal system has decided on his punishment and carried it out; isn't that the country we live in? He has limitations on him post release, and yes he did break the terms of his parole hence the second conviction. That is the legal system working. Perhaps you could argue that he needs more limitations as he wasn't properly monitored last time.

To sign someone off as 'once a paedophile, always a paedophile' does not fit with my ideas about character reform. Realistically, our prison system is not the best place for someone to reform, but in principle he should have access to a reform programme to help him overcome his problems.

He will be on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life. If he is properly monitored and managed by the police as part of his parole, then I don't see him as a danger. I believe people should be given the opportunity to change.

But he he isn't "once a paedophile" juniper he's twice convicted ...so how many times do they have to re-offend before you stop supporting them financially?

He was placed on the sex offenders register after his first conviction in 2005 but managed to go on and commit at least 424 offences for which he was convicted a second time ...

I'm not saying I think he's a nice man, and I'm not saying I support Sparklebox. What I am saying is that, following the legal system of this country, once a person has completed their sentence and the terms of their parole have been decided, then that should be how they live their lives, rather than the vigilante actions of society.

Did he have access to the correct therapy after his conviction, or was his prison sentence designed purely as a way to punish? Has he been offered a chance of reform?

The vast majority of prisoners re-offend. To me, that shows a weakness in the system.

He didn't just break the terms of his parole though, did he? He broke the law for a second time by downloading and creating more images of child pornography.

I didn't ask if you thought he was a nice man I asked how many times he needs to be convicted before schools should stop supporting his hobby.

juniper he "faked his own death" after his first release and changed his name ...does that sound like he wanted to change?

Not blocked in Edinburgh.

Blocked in my LEA.

The twinkl/sparklebox name similarity confused me though, for a while I couldn't remember which one was bad so I avoided both.

I think most schools would be grateful for parents/carers raising the issue (in a non-confrontational way) so that they can make an informed decision if they were unaware. If they were aware, they can explain their reasoning.

As far as I am aware it is in use again as it is under new ownership.

Samuel/Daniel Kinge is still the owner of Sparklebox

www.duedil.com/company/06164228/sparklebox-teacher-resources-limited/people

Instantdisplay.com

Who has said it's under a new owner, though? We were told that an unspecified member of the family had taken over.
I seem to remember a certain Director who changed his name from Daniel to Samuel: that same director swore blind he had no idea why councils had banned the site, then maintained that it was all vicious lies and he was shocked and distressed at the allegations.
Probably he doesn't have access to the site itself, but he's profiting from it and it's his artwork.

How would you feel, I wonder, if your child's teacher organised a Jim'll Fix It day, or played Gary Glitter's Leader of the Gang to the kids? Wouldn't you feel it was in very poor taste and an appalling error of judgement?

Using Daniel Kinge's resources is just as bad, in my opinion. It's like a kick in the teeth, a lack of respect, a "Stuff you - I'll do as I like" to every child and every abuse survivor who is confronted by the Sparklebox logo on resources that a teacher chooses to use.

Interesting, I was told by somebody who works in a school as their LEA unblocked it. I will let them know.

I think the family member taking it over was only ever meant to be a temporary measure while he was serving his second sentence. Once he was released he was always going to take it over again.

Tanith, ignoring the fact that I don't think he should be profitting from anything to do with children, the web of deceit he created in other forums pretty much seals the deal for me. And whilst the site itself might be safe to use I don't trust him enough to want to take the risk of downloading anything from it. The fact the police don't seem to be able to keep track of what he's doing doesn't fill me with much confidence either.

The first judge who set the conditions of his release being that he had no access to a computer got it just about right if you ask me. It was a pity that was overturned on appeal.

I don't think anyone is being vigilante jupiter9. People are leaving the law to do its job, as far as I can see.

People are simply saying that they're not willing to support a twice convicted paedophile making money from online educational resources which has included him encouraging people to upload pictures of children to his site.

Nothing vigilante about that.