A council boss has admitted “regret” over a decision to reinstate a staff member who was investigated over sexual abuse and later convicted of paedophilia.

David Cager, of Old Shoreham Road, Hove, was jailed on Friday for sexually abusing a teenage boy in 2003 and 2004.

The Argus can reveal that years before those offences were reported in 2012, Cager was investigated for alleged separate sexual offences against two other boys.

The 61-year-old was suspended from his job as an out-of-hours officer in Brighton and Hove City Council’s highways department during the investigation in 2005.

But he was reinstated to his job based in Hollingdean Road, Brighton, after prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to press charges.

Speaking after Cager’s sentencing on Friday for the 2003 and 2004 offences, the council’s chief executive, Penny Thompson, said: “In 2005 Mr Cager was suspended arising out of allegations which formed the subject of a police investigation.

“He was reinstated when it was understood that police were unable to proceed further with their investigation. On behalf of the council, I regret that the reinstatement took place.”

On Friday Cager was jailed for nine years after being convicted by a jury of 13 counts of sexual abuse against one boy, aged 13 and 14 at the time of the offences in 2003 and 2004. He had no previous criminal convictions.

The offences comprised indecent assault, sexual activity with a child, gross indecency with a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

His trial at Hove Crown Court heard how he would invite the teenager to his workplace, where he would abuse him.

Ms Thompson added the council had since introduced “a number of changes including improved CCTV at the depot and restrictions on children in the workplace”.

She added: “I plan to satisfy myself that we have learned as much as we can from this dreadful case.”

Cager was suspended again and dismissed in 2012, when the victim in the 2003 and 2004 offences reported the abuse to police. He did not ordinarily have contact with children and his post did not require a criminal records bureau check, the council said. His victim was not connected to his work.

Ms Thompson added: “We have offered every co-operation to the police and will continue to do so.

“These offences took place over 10 years ago and we are pleased that this prosecution was successful. It demonstrates that sexual abuse and exploitation will not be tolerated however long ago it took place.”

background

Cager was jailed on Friday for nine years after a jury found him guilty of 13 counts of sexual abuse against one boy The court heard how the victim had reported the abuse to police years later after he spoke to a counsellor at university.

Cager worked as an out-of-hours highways officer for Brighton and Hove City Council, meaning he was often alone at the Hollingdean Road depot late in the evening, where he would abuse the teenager He also worked as a volunteer special constable for Sussex Police in Brighton for 13 years until 1993 Brighton and Hove City Council chief executive Penny Thompson said after the sentencing: “This is a truly shocking case and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to those affected. I am pleased with this conviction and would like to thank the police for all their hard work.”