A MOTHER has spoken of her shock and distress after discovering a former university friend who used to look after her children is a paedophile.

The woman studied at the University of Derby alongside Neil Challis, who went on to become a primary school teacher at 13 schools in the county.

The horrific nature of Challis' crimes came to light at Derby Crown Court on Friday where it was heard that he had raped an eight-year-old girl from the age of five and had taken indecent photos of pupils.

The 39-year-old former friend, who did not want to be named, said her blood had run cold when she found out about Challis' conviction.

“I just felt disgusted,” she said.

The woman said the pair had become good friends and Challis would often babysit for her children, including her daughter, who was five at the time.

“At the time I was a single parent and he did help me a lot,” she said. “He helped me move house and we did become quite good friends.

“I just feel sick to my stomach now and that our whole friendship was a sham.

“I trusted him with the most important things in my life and who knows what could have happened.

“It sickens me to think that man has been in my house and near my children.”

The woman said she had not yet spoken to her children about Challis, who was arrested in January after his eight-year-old rape victim, who was not one of his pupils, told her parents.

Police found 3,940 indecent images of young girls on his laptop.

“I just don't know what to say,” the woman said.

“How do you start a conversation like that? I just hope to God that nothing happened.

“You read about paedophiles and it is shocking but then you actually know one and realise how close you were to him, how close your children were to him. I just can't bring myself to think about it.

Challis, of Old Chester Road, Chester Green, admitted six charges of rape and four charges of indecent assault of a child.

He also pleaded guilty to three charges of taking indecent pictures of a child and possessing 1,000 indecent images of a child.

The offences took place between August 2004 and January 2008.

His former friend said she could never forgive Challis, who is in custody awaiting sentence for what he died.

“That little girl is never going to get over this. I don't know how I would deal with this or how her parents are going to cope.

“It is unforgivable what he has done.”