So, yet another door was closed yesterday.
My husbands job.
I’ve spoken about this previously. We knew it was a possibility.
He started a delivery job around January this year.
During the interview he disclosed he has ‘unspent convictions.’
The manager told him that he didn’t need to disclose at that time but may need to to HR, further down the line
He was offered the job and started soon after.
He got stuck in..doing whatever shifts he was put down for..never complaining. Agreeing to cover when they were short.
Months went by, suddenly a request from his Manager to submit documentation for a DBS.
He willingly brought the documents in, reminded his manager of a conviction.
A few weeks later, his manager collared him. Asked if he knew what was on the DBS. My husband was open and disclosed.
His manager told him he was his ‘best driver’ and he was going to try and move him onto packing instead whereby no DBS was required.
Weeks later, nothing changed. My husband kept his head down and continued to put his all into that role. Of course he did. Despite his online convictions, he is completely over qualified for delivering food shopping.
Fast forward to yesterday. His manager is off this week. Another manager called him and asked him to come into the office.
He asked him about his DBS. Clearly having been informed already. My husband openly told him of his convictions. He was sent home on the spot, whilst they sought advice.
A short while later he received a phone call. He was given 2 options. He either partake in an internal investigation, or he give his verbal resignation there and then.
He was practically told the internal investigation wouldn’t end well, given he was reminded that the role required passing a basic safeguarding check. So he has no choice but to offer his verbal resignation there and then.
After doing the job well for 9 months, it ended, just like that.
It’s 3 years and 3 months since his arrest now.
My husband is more than just his online offences. Much more.
So this is another closed door. Another dire consequence of his offending.
He has been to prison. He has served his time. He is rehabilitating, or trying to.
When will he stop being defined by the worst thing he’s ever done.
He has taken it well to be honest. He has so much gratitude these days for what he has, not what he hasn’t.
I am proud of him. His strength and resilience to break down these barriers and move forward is amazing.
He will find something else, I know he will. The job suited him for now though. Something physical and not mentally challenged like his previous job which contributed to the stress that led him down the path of Offending in the first place.
However, these closed doors are yet another example of how society do not want to rehabilitate sex offenders. They want to continue to punish. Disporionste risk management. Societies personal bias around sexual offences of any kind.
Things need to change.
After the knock 