disturbing info about neighbour

[lil miss]

we live in a very small town, and have recently moved into a new house (3 months ago). We were told our neighbour (we call him creepy guy) was put away for something but never knew what - until now. We have been informed by another neighbour who has known creepy guy for many years that he was sent to jail for indecently dealing with children- mainly boys.

Now, we are carers of children through child safety (dps siblings), and have our own 2 year old girl. When we found out this information, we were obviously shocked and disgusted but then i started to think... Child saftey should have picked up on this when we informed them of our new address shouldnt they? i know i need to inform them of this information, but im so scared the kids will get taken off us after we have fought so long and hard to have them live with us. Creepy guy never leaves the house, and we very rarely see him. Im just not sure how to handle the whole situation.

[Maisymouse]

:confused: There is no reason for child safety to take the children away from you

[lil miss]

i just wasnt sure. It freaked me out so much knowing we live within metres of someone like that. the neighbour that told us knew because he is a family friend of the victim. I dont know how long ago it was, but i cant stop worrying now. I used to let our 2 yr old dd play under the hose in the backyard naked, but not anymore.

I just worried about child safety cuz i thought they would say its an unacceptable risk having the kids so close (especially since they believe the children in our care have been exposed to abuse in the past, but cant prove it).

[lovelymum]

I would report it as maybe he may be relocated? Thats really scary I just hope that creepy guy has been rehabilitated and you can all simply go about living your lives without fear. I would maybe alert the older children to the fact that he may be a bad man and that they should never ever go into his house or anywhere else for that matter with him and he approaches them to come to you immediatley at least you can report him to the police as I am sure that part of his release from jail would be to stay away from children?? (but then who knows they put housed that horrible whats his name next to a school for petes sake)

[MummaBear03]

I would report it as maybe he may be relocated? Thats really scary I just hope that creepy guy has been rehabilitated and you can all simply go about living your lives without fear. I would maybe alert the older children to the fact that he may be a bad man and that they should never ever go into his house or anywhere else for that matter with him and he approaches them to come to you immediatley at least you can report him to the police as I am sure that part of his release from jail would be to stay away from children?? (but then who knows they put housed that horrible whats his name next to a school for petes sake)

I agree with this, but also understand about the last part about that guy, now I can't remember his name :o but that's just so so so wrong that they put someone with that kind of criminal record next to a school. I can't believe they put him in any suburban streets. In fact, people who are sexual predators cannot be rehabilitated and should not be released into the public ever. I would notify child safety anyway to see if they can get rid of him from that house. Good luck with everything. I don't see that they'd take the kids off you but understant why that would be a concern.

[crazymuma]

Personally I would be trying to move. While I know many of us (unaware) would have neighbours that are just as sick and twisted I couldn't sleep at night knowing that a child abuser was right next door to me.

Are you 100% sure that you have been told the truth - be careful saying it to too many people in case its lies. Maybe look into it a little further.

[lil miss]

the older children know he is a bad man, but we havent gone into any detail as to why. He lives with his mother and very rarely leaves the house, which i spose is a good thing. We havent said anything to anyone aboout what we were told, as we dont believe it needs to be made public in case theres more to it we havent been told.

Us moving is not an option as we have so many people (7, plus bub due in july) and this is the only house in our town thats big enough and in our price range.

we were told by the owners of the house he had been to jail but they didnt know why. the reason only came to light when we were cleaning up after the cyclone and a man 2 houses up pulled my other half aside and told him.

[Bubmum]

People like this should have great big signs hanging in their front yard, tatooed on their foreheads......
But then, that would imply a flase sense of security. Because he lives with his Mother as a hermit, and is known for being in jail, makes his story so easily to accept (it adds to the predator mystique)...But they could be anyone.
I appreciate that the neighbours have told you. this kind of thing should not be swept under the mat.

[Bellini]

... Child saftey should have picked up on this when we informed them of our new address shouldnt they?

No. Corrections only alert child safety of such information if it is requested. Unlike America, Australia does not have a sex offender registry which is available for just anyone to look at. Even child safety need to put a request for information in writing, and even then, it is usually only in circumstances concerning a child *of* a sex offender.

I just want to say that child safety will not take your children away from you, not because you are living next door to an apparent child sex offender. How long ago was he in jail do you know? It's very possible that he is still on parole, and therefore he is still being monitored by corrections. Corrections and child safety do have an assoication, so if you give them this information, they will most likely look into it, although I must say, not much can be done - it is not going to affect your children living there, as both departments know that this man would not have been released from prison if it wasn't believed by prison psychologists that he has a chance at rehabiltation. I can guarantee that.

I hope your neighbour is 100% correct with his information about this person.

[Harlequin]

For all you know your neighbour could be wrong.

I'm not sure why people get so scared when they know someone's past. Knowledge is power. I'd be more worried about the paedophiles in your street you DON'T know about.

[Bellini]

I'd be more worried about the paedophiles in your street you DON'T know about.

This is SO true. They don't all look like the creepy stereotype.