SDA says KFC sex predator exposes ‘sickening’ legal loophole

A powerful SA union says the case reinforces the need for urgent legal changes to protect children.

The union representing fast-food workers has described a KFC worker preying on underage staff as a “sickening” example of a loophole in child protection laws.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Assoication secretary Josh Peak said it was sickening to hear of another incident of child workers being preyed upon after a 23-year-old man was jailed on Tuesday.

The man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was convicted of preying on two teenage colleagues at a regional KFC, causing one to be so scared to come to work she quit.

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, which represents fast food and retail workers, has been advocating for legislative changes to prevent young workers being exposed to sexual predators.

Mr Peak said current retail laws meant nothing was stopping convicted or alleged predators from working with children in a retail or fast food setting.

“All workers have the right to a safe workplace free of abuse and harassment, but right now, our laws are simply not guaranteeing that,” he said.

A KFC worker was jailed for preying on two teenage colleagues. Photo: File

Coles worker Brendan Nazer was sentenced for possessing child exploitation material. Picture: Facebook

“Young workers are at risk because Working with Children checks are not required in fast food.

“Our laws are failing to recognise the risks underage workers face by allowing predators to work with them.”

During the man’s sentencing, the District Court heard he added his 15-year-old colleague on Snapchat while they were both working together in December 2020.

The man, who was sexually abusing another 15-year-old at the time, asked the girl to send him naked photographs, which she did for a couple of months.

The court heard there was an uncharged incident in April 2021 where the man groped the victim’s breasts in a storeroom.

The second victim became too scared to go to work and resigned after disclosing what happened to the store manager.

The man met the third victim, aged 14, while they were also working together at KFC and asked for her Instagram.

He suggested that she perform sex acts on him at work, which she declined.

The man, who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse and procuring a child to engage in sexual activity, was jailed for 18 months, with a non-parole period of nine months.

The union had called on the government to review legislation after Coles night-fill worker, Brendan Nazer, was employed despite being on the child sex offenders register and serving a suspended sentence for child abuse material offences.

The state government said it had heeded the SDA’s call and would introduce a bill to parliament later this year.

Current laws prevent such people from engaging in “child-related work”, which is limited to jobs relating directly to children – such as childcare, tutoring or coaching children.

The changes would broaden that definition to include any work involving contact with children, or at a business that employs children.