A former police officer who was secretly working in childcare has admitted taking explicit photos and videos of children younger than 10 when they were in his care.

David William James created the child abuse material while working at six out-of-school hours (OOSH) care services in Sydney’s north and city centres between April 2021 and May 2024.

James worked with children as far back as 2018 across 58 different after-school and vacation care services across Sydney, according to police.

The 27-year-old is in custody having faced 31 charges, including 17 counts related to the production of child abuse material and seven counts of doing a sexual act with a child that is filmed for child abuse material.

The allegations include that he filmed children – the youngest of whom was only four years old – while they were partially undressed and masturbated in their presence.

On Friday, James pleaded guilty to 11 charges related to the production and possession of child abuse material, and doing a sexual act with children to produce child sex abuse material.

He beamed into court from a custody cell as he confirmed his guilty pleas.

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Prosecutors subsequently withdrew the remaining 20 charges against the former probationary constable in Sydney’s Downing Centre local court.

He will return to the New South Wales district court on 30 January to learn when he will be sentenced.

James had been employed as a probationary constable but, after failing to pass his probation, continued in a civilian capacity until his resignation in May 2023.

NSW police said they were unaware he was working in the childcare sector at the same time.

The 27-year-old came to the attention of Australian federal police investigators after they found the child abuse material on the dark web, tracing it back to him in June 2024.

About 1,200 parents at the six centres where the alleged offences took place were contacted by federal investigators.

But it was revealed that James worked casually at nearly 60 centres over several years, including some of Sydney’s most elite schools, sparking widespread concern from parents.

James’s arrest sparked calls for better information-sharing about staff amid a nationwide reckoning in the childcare sector spurred on by the arrests of childcare workers in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, flagged tougher working-with-children requirements in August and childcare operators say a national register is a top priority, along with real-time notifications of staff under investigation.

In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800; adult survivors can seek help at Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helpline International