Paedophile admits faking references for nursery job

A former nursery worker jailed for possessing indecent images of children has admitted faking references to get another job in childcare.

Kristian Parry, 27, was jailed in March for possessing more than 5,000 images while working at a nursery in Leeds.

Following his conviction it emerged he had applied for a job at another nursery after his arrest, using fake email addresses to send bogus references to secure employment.

On Friday Parry, formerly of of Middleton, Leeds, pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court to one count of fraud.

Parry was initially jailed for two years after admitting charges of possessing of indecent images and a prior fraud offence, which also involved falsified job references. None of the images involved children in his care.

His sentence for the fraud offence was later increased by a year and 8 months after it was ruled to be unduly lenient, bringing the total sentence to three years and eight months.

On Friday, Leeds Magistrates' Court heard earlier that while Parry was being investigated for child abuse images while working at the first nursery, he applied for a similar role elsewhere.

After sending the fake references, he was offered the role and was only let go after 11 weeks after failing his probation period due to "personal hygiene reasons".

Defending Parry, Louise McCallum said the reason he applied for a job there was "purely financial" but District Judge Mark Daley pointed out that he "could have sought other employment" that did not involve children.

Judge Daley said: "This has high culpability as it gained you access to vulnerable people - children.

"Though there was no monetary harm, there was safeguarding harm and reputational damage to the nursery."

Parry is due to be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on 23 October.

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