Man Barred from Working with Children Found Volunteering at Cardiff Athletics Club
Brian Dias, a man banned from working with children due to a history of “violent and sexual behaviour” towards children, has been discovered unlawfully volunteering at Cardiff Athletics Club for over four years. Dias, aged 40, assisted in coaching children at the club despite being prohibited by a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) ban. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe revealed that Dias began volunteering at the club around 2017 and was warned by the DBS later that year about being placed on the children’s barred list. In March 2018, the DBS informed him that his name had been added to the list due to documented incidents of “aggressive, violent, and sexual behaviour towards children,” as heard at Cardiff Crown Court.
Even after being aware of his ban, Dias continued to volunteer at the club, undertaking duties such as timekeeping and assisting in coaching children under supervision. In October 2022, Dias applied for a position as a technical official with UK Athletics, which would have involved unsupervised interactions with children, prompting the DBS to raise concerns. Welsh Athletics was notified of the investigation, leading to Dias’ expulsion from volunteering at the club. Initially denying his involvement in regulated activities while barred, Dias eventually pleaded guilty during the trial, admitting his knowledge of the ban, albeit disputing the specific timeline.
During the court proceedings, Dias’ legal representative, Georgina Buckley, highlighted his lack of prior convictions and emphasised that the DBS concerns stemmed from “historic” allegations dating back to his teenage years. Buckley mentioned that Dias had caring responsibilities as a full-time carer for his severely disabled wife, further stating that his involvement at the club was always supervised. The court took into consideration Dias’ learning difficulties and caring duties, alongside an assessment by the probation service that he posed a medium risk of harm to children, determining that he could be safely managed within the community.
As a result, Judge Paul Hopkins KC issued a 12-month community order for Dias, comprising a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Additionally, Dias, who receives £735 monthly in benefits, was fined £200 along with a £85 victim services surcharge. Due to his limited financial means, he was only required to contribute £100 towards the £3,200 prosecution costs. The case shed light on the vulnerabilities within the system that allowed Dias to slip through the cracks despite being prohibited from working with children, raising concerns about safeguarding protocols and oversight in volunteer organisations.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent vetting procedures and continuous monitoring of individuals entrusted with the care and well-being of children. The revelations surrounding Dias’ clandestine volunteer work at the athletics club have sparked discussions about the need for enhanced vigilance and accountability in safeguarding mechanisms to prevent similar breaches in the future. Ultimately, the case underscores the imperative of robust safeguards and rigorous enforcement to uphold the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals, particularly children, within community settings.