A former police officer, who had been covertly employed in the childcare sector, has confessed to capturing explicit photographs and videos of children under the age of 10 while they were under his supervision.

The 27-year-old is currently in custody, facing 31 charges. Among these, there are 17 counts concerning the creation of child abuse material and seven counts related to performing sexual acts with a child for the purpose of producing such material.

The shocking charges include accusations that he recorded videos of children, some as young as four, while they were partially clothed. He is also alleged to have engaged in masturbation in their presence.

In court today, the accused, identified as James, entered guilty pleas to 11 charges, including those related to the creation and possession of child abuse material and engaging in sexual acts with children to produce such material.

Appearing via video link from a custody cell, James wore a green prison T-shirt and maintained a blank expression as he confirmed his guilty pleas to the court.

Following his admissions, prosecutors decided to drop the remaining 20 charges against the former probationary constable during proceedings at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.

He will return to the NSW District Court on January 30 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 1200 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’ 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.

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.