Arabic version: عامل رعاية الأطفال في سيدني مرتبط بصور إساءة معاملة الأطفال على الويب المظلم

Police have identified Sydney childcare worker David William James as the individual behind the online alias “Remy,” who posted images of minors on the dark web in 2024. Within a week of the posts, authorities were able to track him down using metadata and CCTV footage, according to ABC News.

James has pleaded guilty to 11 offences related to the production and possession of child abuse material. In a handwritten letter to the court, he expressed that he is “deeply ashamed” and “truly sorry” for his actions. Investigators revealed that he exploited the trust placed in him at six out-of-school-hours care centres across Sydney over a three-year period to 2024.

The investigation began when a Queensland Police officer, part of a broader operation targeting online crimes, tracked the activity of the user known as “Remy.” This user posted several images of boys aged approximately five to seven, which led police to extract metadata revealing crucial details about the photos.

CCTV footage subsequently identified James taking photographs of a child in Chatswood Mall. He was later located at a nearby pub, where he was seen ordering a drink. After initially refusing to cooperate with investigators, a digital forensics examiner was able to access his devices, leading to the discovery of numerous disturbing images and videos.

James’s actions have prompted difficult conversations between Australian Federal Police investigators and the families of the victims. One mother described the experience as “surreal” and noted that the crimes had “irreversibly changed” her family’s life. James is set to be sentenced on July 2, 2026.