BRIXHAM PAEDOPHILE DANIEL HUNSDON SENTENCED FOR KIDNAPPING GIRL IN SCOTLAND
| Red Rose Database
Brixham Child Sexual Abuser
In June 2009, a disturbing case unfolded involving a young man from Brixham who was convicted of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl from Glasgow. Daniel Hunsdon, aged 18 and residing on Chestnut Drive in Brixham, was found guilty of grooming and abducting the teenager after establishing contact through the social networking platform Bebo. The case drew significant attention due to the calculated nature of his actions and the serious criminal charges involved.
Hunsdon had initially engaged with the girl online, gradually building a relationship that involved the exchange of sexually explicit messages. His manipulative tactics culminated in him traveling from his home in Brixham to Scotland by coach, with the intent of physically retrieving the girl. This journey marked a critical escalation in his criminal conduct, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
Following the sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, law enforcement officials issued a stern warning about the perils faced by young people on social media platforms. Detective Constable Lisa Stiddard, who works with the Paignton CID, emphasized the case's severity, describing it as particularly distressing and highlighting the importance of parental supervision in safeguarding children from online predators. She underscored the need for vigilance when children use social networking sites, which can be exploited by individuals with malicious intent.
Judge Phillip Wassell, presiding over the case, sentenced Hunsdon to five years in youth custody. The judge condemned his premeditated plan to abduct the girl, noting that Hunsdon had groomed her for his own sexual gratification. The court's remarks served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by social media when exploited by sexual predators. During the trial, it was revealed that Hunsdon, who was visibly upset and sobbing in the dock, engaged in sexual activity with the girl while they were traveling back from Scotland. The court also heard that after sharing a bath, they had sex at his flat.
The victim was so traumatized by her experience that she attempted to take her own life, illustrating the profound psychological impact of the ordeal. Law enforcement officers found the pair naked in Hunsdon’s bed during their arrest. Crown Prosecutor Malcolm Galloway recounted that Hunsdon, when questioned, admitted to having sex with the girl but claimed she had consented. However, the girl later disclosed to police that she was under 16 and that they had discussed having sex, revealing her age during the conversation.
The case also uncovered troubling evidence on Hunsdon’s computer, which contained a total of 4,882 child abuse images, including 41 classified as the most serious category. Additional material included six category five movie files stored on CDs and DVDs, along with a folder containing graphic images of the girl. Hunsdon also admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 years old.
He pleaded guilty to 22 charges during an earlier hearing on April 23. The court sentenced him to a total of five years in custody, with four years specifically for the abduction and sexual acts involving the 13-year-old girl, as well as the sexual offenses committed with the 15-year-old girl. An additional 12 months will run consecutively for possessing and creating indecent images of children. Judge Wassell indicated that Hunsdon could be released on license after serving approximately half of his sentence, but he will remain under supervision for an extra two years. Furthermore, Hunsdon is required to register as a sex offender and is permanently barred from working with children, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Hunsdon had initially engaged with the girl online, gradually building a relationship that involved the exchange of sexually explicit messages. His manipulative tactics culminated in him traveling from his home in Brixham to Scotland by coach, with the intent of physically retrieving the girl. This journey marked a critical escalation in his criminal conduct, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
Following the sentencing at Exeter Crown Court, law enforcement officials issued a stern warning about the perils faced by young people on social media platforms. Detective Constable Lisa Stiddard, who works with the Paignton CID, emphasized the case's severity, describing it as particularly distressing and highlighting the importance of parental supervision in safeguarding children from online predators. She underscored the need for vigilance when children use social networking sites, which can be exploited by individuals with malicious intent.
Judge Phillip Wassell, presiding over the case, sentenced Hunsdon to five years in youth custody. The judge condemned his premeditated plan to abduct the girl, noting that Hunsdon had groomed her for his own sexual gratification. The court's remarks served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by social media when exploited by sexual predators. During the trial, it was revealed that Hunsdon, who was visibly upset and sobbing in the dock, engaged in sexual activity with the girl while they were traveling back from Scotland. The court also heard that after sharing a bath, they had sex at his flat.
The victim was so traumatized by her experience that she attempted to take her own life, illustrating the profound psychological impact of the ordeal. Law enforcement officers found the pair naked in Hunsdon’s bed during their arrest. Crown Prosecutor Malcolm Galloway recounted that Hunsdon, when questioned, admitted to having sex with the girl but claimed she had consented. However, the girl later disclosed to police that she was under 16 and that they had discussed having sex, revealing her age during the conversation.
The case also uncovered troubling evidence on Hunsdon’s computer, which contained a total of 4,882 child abuse images, including 41 classified as the most serious category. Additional material included six category five movie files stored on CDs and DVDs, along with a folder containing graphic images of the girl. Hunsdon also admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 years old.
He pleaded guilty to 22 charges during an earlier hearing on April 23. The court sentenced him to a total of five years in custody, with four years specifically for the abduction and sexual acts involving the 13-year-old girl, as well as the sexual offenses committed with the 15-year-old girl. An additional 12 months will run consecutively for possessing and creating indecent images of children. Judge Wassell indicated that Hunsdon could be released on license after serving approximately half of his sentence, but he will remain under supervision for an extra two years. Furthermore, Hunsdon is required to register as a sex offender and is permanently barred from working with children, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.