Convicted paedophile Stephen Maxwell Murray caught working near Haileybury College

A CONVICTED paedophile was able to work at a convenience store just two doors down from one of Melbourne’s top private schools, serving dozens of unsuspecting children every day.

A CONVICTED paedophile was able to work at a convenience store just two doors down from one of Melbourne’s top private schools, serving dozens of unsuspecting children every day.

Stephen Maxwell Murray was spotted working at the King St shop this week — less than 100m from Haileybury College’s new city campus — but quit after questioning from the Herald Sun.

MORE HERALD SUN NEWS:

TEENS CHARGED OVER WANTIRNA SOUTH ALLEGED FATAL HIT-RUN CRASH

MISSING PERSON JENNY ROSE NG: $1 MILLION REWARD

FATHER BOB HOMELESS: MAYORAL CANDIDATE WANTS HOMELESS REFUGE

Convicted Paedophile Stephen Maxwell Murray at work in a convenience store in West Melbourne. Picture: Jay Town

Murray was jailed for three convictions for indecently assaulting teenage boys in the early 1990s.

The Herald Sun witnessed a constant stream of school students entering the store to buy drinks and snacks throughout the day on Wednesday.

The sex offender was the only worker in the tiny store and was seen grazing past children as he moved down the narrow aisles.

When questioned by the Herald Sun if he thought it was appropriate for him to be working so close to a school he refused to answer and told the reporter to leave the store.

“I’ve only been working here a little while,” he said.

“I actually didn’t know the school was there … get out of here,” Murray said.

The next day the owner of the store, Andy, said Murray had quit the night before and would not be returning.

“He told me what he did (in the past) and he never ever come back here,” Andy said.

The owner said he was unaware of his employee’s prior convictions when he hired him but defended him, saying: “he is just a friend … he happy working here but he understands he can never come back”.

A school kid is served by Mr Murray at the convenience store.

In 2015 the Herald Sun revealed Murray had been working at a Carlton toy shop thanks to a loophole in the Working with Children Check system.

Public outcry at Murray’s ability to flout the system and have access to children prompted the state government to review the WWC requirements.

He subsequently lost his job at the toy store.

Despite the Flagstaff convenience store located within meters of the school, staff do not require a WWC to work there.

Shadow Police Minister Edward O’Donohue said parents should not have to be worried about whether their kids are safe at school.

“Unlike Daniel Andrews, a Matthew Guy Government will make sure the rights of innocent Victorians are put before the rights of the worst sex offenders and criminals,”

“A Liberal Nationals Government will create a public sex offenders register so schools know if there are paedophile or other sex offenders living nearby,” Mr O’Donohue said.

Attorney-General Martin Pakula said the Andrews’ government had already taken significant action to strengthen the scheme.

“We want to do everything we can to keep children safe and we are continuing to look at ways to strengthen the Working with Children Check scheme,” he said.

Haileybury College did not wish to comment.

The elite school’s West Melbourne campus is the college’s fourth campus, with parents forking out almost $30,000 per year in tuition fees.

The shop (left) is just down the road from Haileybury College. Picture: Jay Town

LABOR’S CASH SPLASH TO HELP REDUCE YOUR POWER BILLS

MATT JOHNSTON: ELECTION SWEETENERS SET FOR AN EARLY START

WHY AUSTRALIAN POWER BILLS ARE SOARING: ACCC