Convicted rapist employed by delivery firm Yodel for six months before background checks were carried out

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/loca ... m-11676164" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yodel employee Nicholas Laloo worked in the Farnborough area for six months before a client asked for background checks to be run

A convicted rapist worked for a national delivery company at its Farnborough depot for six months before any background checks were carried out, Get Hampshire has learned.

Through a third party supplier, Yodel, a parcel delivery service for many of the UK’s leading retailers, employed rapist Nicholas Laloo at its depot in Summit Avenue between October last year and April.

Laloo was convicted in January 2012 after admitting one count relating to concealing his criminal past from his bosses at a previous job, and was jailed for six months.

He had previously served a 12-year jail sentence for two rapes.

A former employee at Yodel, who asked to remain anonymous, told Get Hampshire Laloo’s past was only revealed when a client asked for the background checks to be run.

They said: “The role he was undertaking was a delivery driver, this will have involved face-to-face interaction with members of the public.

“Yodel publishes stories about how their drivers sometimes assist vulnerable customers so there is a high potential he will have entered customers’ homes at some point.

"He will have had information regarding their address and phone numbers.

“The process for checking new employees at Yodel is to check them after they had started – good practice should dictate that people are checked before starting.

“If forms were not returned by the employees no formal action was taken, so there are still instances of employees working at Yodel six months without a check being undertaken.”

They added: “Concerns have been raised by staff after this incident was uncovered about how the process is unsafe and there is potential that even more serious offenders could work for Yodel for a few months until they are found out.

"The senior HR team ignored these issues stating it is impractical to undertake checks before they start, even if the roles are customer-facing, as the business is fast-paced.

“It was only because a client asked for a check to be undertaken on Mr Laloo as part of a service agreement that his past was revealed. He was dismissed immediately.”

'Isolated incident'

A spokesman for Yodel confirmed Laloo was dismissed when his convictions came to light as a result of a security check in April.

They said he had been employed by one of Yodel’s suppliers that was delivering parcels in the busy run-up to Christmas, which neglected to undertake the checks and has since apologised.

In a statement, the spokesman added the company takes safety and security "very seriously" and has recently introduced a new system which ensures all new delivery drivers and couriers are security checked.

He said: “The Government’s DBS system is much faster than the previous CRB checks and results come back before new employees start working for Yodel.

“This is an isolated incident involving an individual who was working for one of our suppliers. At that time we understood he had been security checked by his employer, but it later transpired this was not the case.

“Our policy states that our drivers deliver to the doorstep and frequent reminders are sent out to staff not to cross the threshold. However, there have been occasions where customers have requested help and, rather than refuse, our drivers have used their discretion.

“We are concerned to hear staff felt dissatisfied with our own processes, which are constantly reviewed.

“We always encourage feedback but do not have any record of any concerns or complaints being raised about this case or Mr Laloo.”