Charity chiefs in Fife have defended the use of convicted sex offenders to deliver furniture to local families after worried members of the public raised concerns about the practice.
Those involved with the Castle Furniture Project say they remain “fully committed” to helping former offenders reintegrate back into society after it emerged that a number of paedophiles have been working for the furniture reuse group.
The project takes donations of good quality furniture, household items, toys, electrical appliances and white goods from throughout the region and sells them from its bases in Cupar and Glenrothes, providing a free service to low income or disadvantaged customers who are referred by agencies.
Delivery drivers often visit homes to pick up or drop off items which has raised concern in some communities.
One member of the public, who asked not want to be named, said he felt “sick” after learning that convicted sex offenders were on the books at Castle Furniture and potentially could come into contact with children.
He said: “I know people deserve a second chance but I wouldn’t want someone like that coming into my house.
“It doesn’t sit right and I think it’s something the wider public need to know about.”
The man added that he had discovered that one of the delivery drivers had been caught with more than 1,000 indecent images on his laptop, around a third of which were deemed to be the most serious category A types.
The paedophile was not jailed but was given unpaid work, although he was put on the sex offenders’ register for his crimes.
Sylvia Ingram, the chief executive of Castle Furniture, defended the practice.
“One of Castle Furniture’s roles is to work, in partnership with the judicial system, to assist in the re-integration of ex-offenders into the community,” she said.
“This has always included those on the Sex Offenders Register and we operate fully within the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) to ensure there is no risk to the public.
“Comprehensive risk assessments are conducted and ex-offenders are always accompanied by another staff member if visiting homes on Castle Furniture business.
“Since the charity was founded 27 years ago, Castle Furniture has been fully committed to playing our part in the rehabilitation of ex-offenders, of all kinds, and I am sure the public understands and appreciates the importance of that role.”
The news comes just a matter of weeks after a similar case came to light in Dundee, when a driver at Oleg’s Furniture was revealed as a convicted paedophile.
