Rapist allowed to work at youth club is daughter of woman who ran it

A RAPIST who got a job at a youth club is the daughter of one of its directors, we can reveal.

- CONOR GOGARTY

Sarah Vigus, also known as Sarah Parkinson, was under police investigation for raping a 17-year-old girl when she successfully applied for a role at YMCA Porthcawl's after-school club.

Vigus, 38, was later jailed for eight years and three months after a jury found her guilty of rape and assault by penetration.

The young people’s charity initially denied it had known about the case until she failed to turn up for work, having been convicted and remanded in custody.

Yesterday, we revealed the hiring of Vigus in 2023 came after the charity was made aware of a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate that included “comprehensive details about her arrest and the nature and extent of the alleged offences” from 2022.

Now the YMCA has admitted safeguarding procedures were “not followed correctly”.

Its spokesman said: “The individual responsible for verifying Ms Vigus’ DBS certificate has offered their resignation, which has been accepted.”

The charity insists the person responsible was not Vigus’ mother, Janice Parkinson, who has been a director of YMCA Porthcawl for 13 years and will be leaving that role due to “the perception that her position may cause”.

“We can confirm that Ms Parkinson played no role in the recruitment of Ms Vigus and had no involvement in the processing or review of her DBS certificate,” said the YMCA spokesman.

“Ms Parkinson strongly refutes having any knowledge of Ms Vigus’ crime prior to her conviction. However, she acknowledges the perception that her position may cause and has therefore stepped down as trustee.”

The Charity Commission watchdog told us it is looking into “serious concerns” raised by our report over the YMCA club and is assessing its “next steps as regulator”.