Identity of Sydney daycare worker facing 329 child abuse offences revealed

Identity of Sydney daycare worker facing 329 child abuse offences revealedImage source, GettyImage caption, Hamish Tait is accused of abusing more than 100 children across five childcare centres in Sydney.ByHelen LivingstoneSydneyPublished7 minutes agoA Sydney childcare worker who was charged with 329 offences over his alleged abuse of 136 children at multiple daycare centres across a 16-year period can now be named.Hamish Tait was first arrested in July last year but his identity was only revealed on Monday, when a court order sought by police while they tried to identify victims and contact families was lifted.The charges against the 35-year-old, who remains in custody, include 162 counts of producing child abuse material and 81 counts of filming a person engaged in a private act without consent.Police said they had contacted 121 families affected by the alleged offending but are still trying to identify 22 victims.Image source, Australian Federal PoliceImage caption, A handout photo by police shows Hamish, who can only be seen from the back, being handcuffed by police"Any form of child sexual abuse is confronting and horrific, even more so when the alleged perpetrator is an individual trusted with the care of our youth," Australian Federal Police (AFP) Acting Commander Luke Needham said.Tait worked at or attended 62 early childhood education facilities in Sydney between 2009 and 2025, although police say he primarily worked in the city's north-west. The alleged offending occurred at five facilities including four childcare centres and his own private business.Police have published a website, external identifying the centres where he worked and offering support for families. The charges also include 22 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material and 18 counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years.Police said they first linked Tait to illegal online activity in June last year. They...