DANIEL BALFOUR FROM BERWICK ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SEX WITH 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN BERWICKSHIRE

In a case that has drawn significant attention both locally and nationally, Daniel Balfour, a 23-year-old man from St Aidan's Road in Berwick, was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and subsequently received a sentence that avoided imprisonment. Instead of serving time behind bars, Balfour was placed on a three-year probation order, a decision made by Sheriff Kevin Drummond who believed this approach would offer a more effective level of protection for the young girl involved.

According to court records, Balfour pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful intercourse with a 14-year-old girl from Berwickshire. The sexual relationship took place between April 1 and October 6 of the previous year. It was revealed during proceedings that the girl’s mother was fully aware of the nature of the relationship and had permitted it to continue within the family home, a fact that added complexity to the case and attracted considerable media interest.

Details of the case emerged when the girl’s mother wrote to local newspapers, The Berwick Advertiser and The Berwickshire News, explaining her and her husband's involvement and their perspective on the situation. The case first came before the court on January 7, when Balfour was ordered to have no contact with the girl. His solicitor, Ross Dow, stated that the day after that court appearance, Balfour ended the relationship.

Prior to sentencing, the court deferred judgment to allow for the completion of a social enquiry report, a risk assessment, and a report from the Northumbria Sex Offenders Group. The social enquiry report indicated that the girl’s mother’s endorsement of the relationship had given Balfour a false sense of entitlement, which contributed to his decision to continue the relationship. Despite this, Mr. Dow acknowledged that Balfour had come to understand the seriousness of his actions, recognizing that the responsibility ultimately lay with him.

During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Kevin Drummond emphasized the importance of considering all relevant factors, including the significant age difference, the context of the relationship, and the absence of deception or mistrust. He clarified that the issue of consent was irrelevant in this case, as the law considers minors incapable of giving legal consent. The sheriff pointed out that the legislation’s primary purpose is to protect children, not to judge morality. He noted that Balfour was aware of the girl’s age but continued the relationship nonetheless.

Furthermore, Sheriff Drummond expressed concern that the relationship occurred without objection from the girl’s mother and within the family home, which he described as a serious failure of parental responsibility. Children are entitled to protection within their own homes, and such breaches are particularly troubling.

While the sheriff acknowledged that the age gap between Balfour and the girl had “crossed the threshold of custody,” he decided that a maximum three-month custodial sentence would not sufficiently protect the minor. Instead, he imposed a combination of non-custodial penalties, including 140 hours of community service and a three-year probation order. An additional condition was placed on Balfour, prohibiting him from being alone in enclosed spaces with his former girlfriend.

In a separate matter, Balfour was fined £135 and ordered to pay £103 in compensation after being found guilty of stealing water tanks from a garden in Eyemouth last year, demonstrating a pattern of criminal behavior beyond the sexual offence.