Leeds paedophile who faked references for nursery job sentenced

A former nursery worker jailed for possessing indecent images of children has been sentenced for 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 Middleton, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to an additional two years in prison after admitting fraud by false representation.

Parry was initially jailed for two years after admitting charges of possession 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 eight months after it was ruled to be unduly lenient.

Following BBC coverage of the case, it emerged Parry had gone on to secure work at another nursery in the city after his arrest.

On Friday, Judge Crowson said Parry, who appeared via a video link from prison, “deceived” the nursery by falsifying references and creating “fictious” email addresses to secure the job.

Prosecutor Carmel Pearson told the court an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check was run on Parry, but he was given the job at the nursery.

However, he was let go after failing his three-month probationary period, which Pearson said was due to “problems with his attendance and behaviour at work”.

She told the court the nursery lost about £20,000 as a result of Parry’s offending, made up of both the defendant’s wages and money spent on measures put in place, including increased safeguarding measures.

Thomas Doyle, defending, said Parry offered an early guilty plea to the latest offence.

He added the defendant “presents as someone significantly younger” than his age, and struggles with his mental health.

Passing sentence, Judge Crowson said: “If the truth had been known, you would have never been allowed in the building.”

Parry poses a “serious threat” to children, the judge told the court, adding he “researched and found a method to continue to have contact with vulnerable children”.