David James: Childcare worker allegedly made child abuse material videos at six centres

Police have released the full-list of 58 after-school centres where David James – charged after allegedly producing abuse videos of 10 children in his care – worked. It is only alleged he offended at six centres. READ THE LIST.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James speaks to the media during a press conference. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

A childcare worker who allegedly produced child abuse material of 10 children in his care across six different Sydney after-school centres has been identified.

Artarmon man David William James, 26, who was previously also employed by NSW Police, has been charged with filming boys aged between five and six to make child-abuse videos.

It comes as parents are still reeling from allegations Victorian man Joshua Brown, who worked at 20 childcare centres across ­Melbourne, was charged with 70 child sex offences.

It is alleged Mr James stood behind them while they were at the urinal and in other videos masturbated behind them, according to court documents seen by The Australian.

More than 1000 parents and carers from the six centres – a number of which are owned by Junior Adventures Group – where Mr James allegedly produced the material, were contacted last month.

But authorities have today notified the other 52 out-of-hours school services where Mr James worked between March 2018 and September 2024. The Australian Federal Police say they do not believe any alleged offending took place at those centres.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Authorities have also created a website listing every centre, which are largely based in Sydney’s north, and the dates he worked there.

The Australian can now reveal the six childcare centres where the alleged offending took place included Willoughby Kids House, where he worked for one day, Helping Hands – St Ives Public School, Helping Hands – Lane Cove West, Pyrmont OSHC – City of Sydney, OSHClub – Barker College, and St Ives OSHC Centre – KIDZONE.

In a statement, Junior Adventure Centres, which runs three of the centres where the alleged abuse took place, said they were “also only just finding out details of alleged offences, with the Non-Publication Order (NPO) being lifted today”.

“We fully understand how distressing this matter is, and we share the immense upset and concern surrounding it. We have been co-operating with police and doing all that we can to assist them in their investigation. We are now contacting all our parents at the centres the AFP has listed,” the statement said.

Federal police have revealed the scale of its operation to charge Mr James after a court suppression order was lifted on his identity at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday. This is despite Mr James’ lawyers attempting to keep his identity suppressed.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett James said the investigation began in June 2024 after child abuse material was detected on the dark web.

“A man was identified as being allegedly responsible for this material and a search warrant at his home was executed at his Artarmon home in September 2024,” he said.

Police will allege Mr James refused to then provide access to his electronic devices and was charged, but was granted bail by the courts a few days later.

Another five days later, forensics investigators were able to crack into Mr James’ devices and found the alleged child abuse material.

Investigators pored through all 142,000 files on his devices and charged him with the 12 offences including nine counts of aggravated use child under 14 years to make child abuse material, use child under 14 years to make child abuse material, and two counts of possess child abuse material.

He has been in custody since October 2024.

“Victim identification is a painstaking and detailed process that can take months to carry out,” he said.

In June 2025, a hotline was set up for parents at the six centres who had been advised of potential contact with the ­accused.

“It’s very important for me to reassure parents and carers in the community about this investigation. If you have not heard from the AFP, it is because we have no evidence which has linked your family to this man’s offending,” Assistant Commissioner James said.

Mr James had the appropriate Working With Children Check, police said.

Australian Federal Police (AFP). Picture: Blake Foden

Assistant Commissioner James said how and why the alleged offender was left alone with the children would form part of the brief of evidence put before the courts. He also said it was a matter for industry how he managed to work at so many centres.

“I think what you’ll find is some of the centres he might have worked one shift, and some of the centres he might have worked a lot of shifts,” he said.

“I think how the industry work is a matter for industry. It’s not for law enforcement,” the Assistant Commissioner said.

On Thursday, NSW Police confirmed Mr James was a former employee of the NSW Police Force.

“He was employed as a probationary constable from December 2021 to September 2022 and, after failing to complete his probation, continued in a civilian capacity until his resignation in May 2023,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“During his employment, the man failed to seek the required approval to engage in secondary employment, and as such, police were unaware of his concurrent role in the childcare sector.”

Mr James is also charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material over a number of months in 2021 and 2024. A spokesman for the NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority said they have been assisting the Australian Federal Police investigation since September 2024.

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to support the investigation and prosecution of any criminal behaviour in early childhood education and care,” the spokesman said.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said “these are deeply concerning allegations that no parent ever wants to hear about and my heart goes out to all affected families”.