SEXUAL PREDATOR CHRISTOPHER DANIEL FROM RHONDDA SENTENCED TO 28 YEARS FOR ABUSE IN MERTHYR TYDFIL

In May 2014, Christopher Daniel, a 25-year-old resident of Brithweunydd Road, Trealaw, Rhondda, was sentenced for a sustained campaign of sexual abuse spanning over 13 years. He was found guilty of abusing five victims, with the youngest first targeted at just eight years old when Daniel was only 12.

Daniel faced 20 counts of sexual abuse dating from 2000 to 2013, including multiple charges of rape, sexual assault, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Despite denying these allegations, a jury of five men and seven women at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court took just three hours to unanimously convict him of all charges.

Judge Richard Twomlow described Daniel as a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk to the public and imposed an extended sentence. Addressing him during the sentencing, which was conducted via video link from prison, the judge stated, “The way the offences were committed in different locations as each girl reached a similar age show that you were manipulative and clever in avoiding suspicion. You have been a calculating sexual predator. This was a sustained and determined campaign of rape and sexual abuse.”

Daniel received a total imprisonment of 20 years, with the stipulation that he serve two-thirds of this term before being eligible for release on licence. Additionally, an eight-year extended licence was imposed, commencing after the initial 20 years.

Throughout the proceedings, Daniel, a former taxi driver and father, remained emotionless, showing no visible remorse during sentencing or the trial, which lasted nine days and revisited the victims’ distressing experiences.

Prosecutor Lucy Crowther shared emotional testimony, stating, “All the girls felt that they had been called liars and that they were the ones being criticised when all they wanted to do was to tell the truth.” She read a statement from the victims’ parents, highlighting the profound impact of the abuse.

“They feel guilty to the very core that they should have somehow known there was something wrong, so that they could have done something. They feel that they were unable to protect their children. It has been heartbreaking to see them suffer through all of this and the court case.”

Crowther criticized Daniel’s lack of remorse, adding, “He had tried to control them by putting them through the horrific ordeal of a full trial. He could have said sorry or admitted what he had done.” One victim described her feelings of guilt for not speaking sooner, noting, “He removed her childhood from her,” and feeling that her adult life is still under his influence. She, who was only eight when the abuse started, described how what happened became normalized, leading her to struggle deeply with trust and feelings of dirtiness, as she feels compelled to wash and scrub to feel clean.

The court also heard testimonials from Daniel’s mother, Janette Daniel, a club stewardess, who stated she had no suspicion of his misconduct. Similarly, Daniel’s partner, Kate Richards, expressed that she had never harbored any concerns about him.

During the trial, victims—who cannot be named for legal reasons—described Daniel as cold, intimidating, and occasionally violent, recounting instances such as him gagging one girl to silence her when she tried to scream and describing his behavior as initially innocent but escalating into abusive acts, some of which he attempted to conceal with bribes like sweets.

One victim reflected on her confusion, saying, “I didn’t fully understand what he was doing, but as I got older, I did. He made me feel disgusting. I have to live with the guilt of not telling anyone. I was ashamed. Very ashamed.”

As part of his sentence, Daniel will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

Following sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard Erskine of South Wales Police commented, “Mr. Daniel was a calculating, manipulative individual who preyed on the vulnerable. He deserves to be behind bars, and I hope the victims and their loved ones now find some measure of closure for what they have endured.”