BLACKLEY OFFENDER DANIEL HOWARTH SENTENCED FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND ABUSE IN THE UK AND US

In a case that has shocked both the local community in Blackley and the international online safety community, Daniel Howarth, an 18-year-old from Grange Park Road, Blackley, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and abuse of minors across two continents.

It emerged that Howarth had engaged in a disturbing pattern of online manipulation and exploitation, targeting vulnerable teenagers through social media platforms, notably Kik. His most notorious victim was a 15-year-old girl from Georgia, USA, who was lured into a web of psychological torment and physical degradation. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, traveled approximately 4,000 miles from her home in America to the UK to confront her abuser in court, demonstrating remarkable courage amid her trauma.

During the court proceedings, the young victim, visibly distressed, demanded Howarth’s attention by saying, “look at me when I’m talking to you,” as she recounted her harrowing experience. Despite the suffering she endured, she astonishingly expressed forgiveness towards Howarth, stating, “God forgives you – and I forgive you,” a gesture that underscored her resilience and desire for closure.

Howarth’s criminal activities began when he obtained nude images of the girl, which he used to exert control over her. His manipulative tactics included instructing her not to shower, to adopt a nocturnal lifestyle, to drink her own urine, and to send him explicit images of herself performing sexual acts. These acts of coercion persisted over several months, during which he also forced her to perform degrading acts on camera, often at his behest.

In addition to the abuse of the girl from Georgia, Howarth also groomed a 15-year-old boy online, subjecting him to similar humiliations and forcing him to perform disturbing acts. The court heard that both victims were coerced into performing bizarre and degrading acts on camera, with Howarth directing their actions remotely. The girl’s impact statement, read aloud in court, vividly described her ordeal and her plea for justice, ending with her words to Howarth: “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” as he refused to meet her gaze.

In sentencing, Judge Richard Mansell QC emphasized the severity of Howarth’s actions, describing the defendant as an “extremely troubled young man” with a history of mental health issues, including depression, severe social anxiety, and a long-standing sleep disorder. The judge highlighted the calculated nature of Howarth’s grooming, noting the way he initially appeared friendly before turning to sexualized aggression and victimization. The fact that there was more than one victim, and the prolonged period over which the crimes occurred, contributed to the judge’s decision to impose an extended sentence, reflecting the dangerousness of Howarth’s conduct.

Further disturbing revelations came to light during the investigation. Police discovered that Howarth had set up an online mental health and self-harm support forum, which could have provided him access to other vulnerable individuals. His primary method of contact was through Kik, where he engaged with the victims. The girl from Georgia described how their relationship began with a night-long chat, during which they exchanged intimate photos. Howarth initially offered her support and friendship but became angry when she hesitated to send more explicit images, ultimately threatening to send her pictures to her school if she did not comply.

Over the following months, Howarth continued to manipulate and threaten his victims, instructing the girl to stop showering, eat coffee and her own hair, and send images of herself with abusive phrases written on her body. He also coerced her into contacting other men online, ridiculing her and her interactions. His threats escalated to violent fantasies, including plans to fly to the US to assault her and her family, and he forced her to take numerous pictures of herself as a form of punishment.

The police traced Howarth’s IP address after the girl confided in a friend and then a teacher about her ordeal. When authorities raided his home, they found an iPhone containing child and extreme pornography, along with an iPad that revealed his abuse of the 15-year-old boy. The boy had been subjected to a series of degrading acts, including drinking urine, eating faeces, and self-harm with wire and knives, all under Howarth’s direction. The family of the male victim, described as “extremely disturbed” even before the abuse, chose not to cooperate with the prosecution, leaving some details of the impact unknown.

The case has left a lasting scar on the victims, with the girl from Georgia diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and forced to drop out of school. Her mother, a former high school principal, has had to leave her job, adding financial strain to the family’s ordeal. The court heard that Howarth admitted to multiple charges, including inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, producing child pornography, and possessing indecent and extreme pornographic images.

Judge Mansell concluded by warning that Howarth remains a significant risk to others, citing his lack of remorse and insight into the harm caused. The judge’s decision to impose a lengthy, extended sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes and the potential danger posed by Howarth’s continued actions if released. This case underscores the importance of vigilance in online spaces and the devastating impact of grooming and exploitation, especially when carried out by individuals with malicious intent.