Butlin’s has sacked a paedophile lifeguard who worked at its Minehead resort after discovering he was convicted of grooming a 13-year-old boy for sex in Australia.
Dean Carelse, 43, an ex-water polo and rugby coach, was sentenced to prison in Queensland in 2022 after pleading guilty to nearly 20 charges. This included grooming the teenage boy and being in possession of images of child exploitation.
The peadophile had been a member of staff at the Somerset resort for nearly a year.
The offences happened when Carelse was a teacher at a private school on Sunshine Coast in Queensland during the late 2010s, according to The Times.
However, the offences were not picked up by the UK’s criminal background checks requested by Butlin’s.
Carelse was deported to his native South Africa following his sentence with no restrictions placed on where he could move.
Butlin’s has sacked a paedophile lifeguard who worked at its Minehead resort (pictured)
An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) investigation managed to track the paedophile down to Minehead resort.
Butlin’s said it launched an investigation and confirmed Carelse no longer works with them ‘with immediate effect’.
A Butlin’s spokesperson said: ‘Upon being made aware, we immediately conducted an investigation.
‘As part of our recruitment process and in line with government guidance, we carried out an enhanced DBS check and right to work status which came back clear.
‘The team member falsified information on their application, and we can confirm they no longer work for us. In addition, there have been no complaints or issues raised against them.’
They added: ‘Due to the severity of this we have reviewed our policy and can confirm additional checks for existing international team and future international applicants will be carried out.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
