TEESIDE CHILD MOLESTER DANIEL CHILDS SENTENCED FOR SICKENING ONLINE ABUSE

In June 2020, a deeply disturbing case unfolded involving Daniel Richard Childs, a 31-year-old man from Teeside, who was convicted of heinous crimes related to child abuse and online child exploitation. Childs was found to have engaged in a series of depraved activities, including sharing explicit images and videos of children, and discussing child abuse with other paedophiles in online chat rooms.

During the court proceedings at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Childs had confessed to molesting a child during an online conversation with an undercover police officer. Despite his admission, Childs remained in denial about the sexual motivation behind his actions, which added a layer of complexity to his case. The court heard that Childs had gone beyond mere discussion, claiming to have engaged in sexual acts with a child and had taken explicit photographs and videos during these acts.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds described the extent of Childs' disturbing conduct, noting that many of the details are too distressing to be publicly reported. It was established that Childs had sent explicit photographs of a child to the undercover officer and had requested similar images in return. The police, acting swiftly to protect potential victims and gather evidence, traced Childs to his residence in Teeside. They seized his mobile phone, which contained 44 images of child abuse, including an indecent video that Childs had shared with another online user.

A mother of one of the victims expressed her devastation and anger over the case. She shared her emotional turmoil, stating that she sometimes felt as if the reality of her child's abuse was too overwhelming to accept. Despite her pain, she emphasized her family's resilience and their collective effort to support each other through this traumatic period.

Childs admitted to discussing fantasy role play with others and sending explicit images, citing loneliness and depression as reasons for his actions. He confessed to the sexual assaults but denied deriving sexual pleasure from them, claiming instead that he was overwhelmed by his emotional state. In court, he expressed remorse, describing himself as hugely sorry, embarrassed, and ashamed, and stated that his life was effectively over.

In January, Childs pleaded guilty to 12 sexual offences, including six counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of distributing indecent images, and three counts of making indecent photographs of children. He appeared via video link from Durham Prison for sentencing on the Tuesday following his plea. Notably, he denied a charge of rape, which was left unresolved on the court record.

The police had previously investigated Childs in 2017 on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children. However, at that time, they found relevant search terms but lacked sufficient evidence to proceed further, leading to no immediate action.

Judge Stephen Ashurst described Childs' crimes as 'dreadful' and 'exceptionally serious.' He emphasized that Childs not only sexually abused children but also actively participated in online discussions with other like-minded individuals, sharing images and videos of abuse. The judge highlighted the premeditated nature of Childs' actions, noting that he had his mobile phone ready to record and potentially distribute his crimes.

Judge Ashurst condemned the existence of such online groups dedicated to sharing and discussing child abuse, calling it distressing to learn that such communities exist. He praised the police for their swift response once Childs' activities were brought to light. The judge also pointed out that Childs had ignored a warning shot in 2017, which might have provided an opportunity for intervention, but he was not prosecuted at that time.

Victims' families and those affected remain in shock and horror over the case. The judge remarked that Childs was in denial about his motives, minimized the harm caused, and focused on his own unhappiness. He concluded that Childs posed a significant risk to the public, especially to children, and ordered an extended 15-year prison sentence. This sentence includes a 10-year term, with at least two-thirds to be served before parole eligibility, along with a five-year extended licence period. Additionally, Childs was subjected to a lifelong restraining order and will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely.