Police review complaints over nursery worker case

Complaints from parents about how police handled an investigation into a nursery worker who continued working with children after his arrest are being reviewed by the force's professional standards department.

Kristian Parry, 26, was jailed in March after admitting to possessing indecent images of children as well as falsifying references to obtain a job at a nursery in Leeds.

Two months after he was arrested for the offences, he went on to secure work at another nursery while on bail.

West Yorkshire Police said its Professional Standards Directorate had "received a number of complaints relating to the original investigation" which were being reviewed and would be responded to.

Parry, of Middleton in Leeds, was found to have more than 5,000 images and videos on his laptop and mobile phone, some of which were category A pictures showing the most severe kinds of abuse.

He admitted fraud, making indecent images and possessing a prohibited image of a child and was jailed for two years at Leeds Crown Court.

The fraud charge related to false references he provided to the nursery where he was arrested, having been dismissed from his previous job - also at a nursery - for alcohol abuse.

Police previously confirmed that none of the charges had been related to the children in Parry's care.

After he was sentenced, it emerged Parry, who was first arrested in May last year, had gone on to get a job at another nursery just eight miles (14km) away.

Parents of children at both nurseries found out about his crimes after reading a report on the BBC News website and at the time said they were shocked and upset that they had not been informed.

West Yorkshire Police said, following further information that had to come to light since he was jailed, a new investigation had started into an offence of fraud by false representation and the inquiry was ongoing.

A spokesperson for the force said: "We recognise that parents, guardians and members of the wider community continue to have concerns about the fact that an individual convicted of offences involving indecent images of children was previously employed in a number of nursery settings.

"We understand how distressing this remains for those affected."

They said, while the new investigation was into a reported fraud offence, the force had "taken on board the feedback" received.

"[We] are ensuring that we are updating parents and guardians where possible on this investigation to allay any additional concerns they may have," the force added.

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