DANIEL KEENOR AND SHOCKING CHILD EXPLOITATION IN PAIGNTON
A deeply entrenched paedophile known as Daniel Keenor was apprehended by undercover police officers after he attempted to engage in disturbing sexual conversations and share explicit videos involving what he believed were 12-year-old girls.The investigation revealed that Keenor used encrypted messaging platforms to exchange and distribute material depicting the abuse of very young children by adults.
Keenor, aged 46, had a troubling history as a registered sex offender with numerous previous convictions related to similar offences.
Despite having previously undergone sex offender rehabilitation programs aimed at reforming his behavior, authorities stated that these efforts had not resulted in meaningful change.
His criminal activities escalated, culminating in the recent case where he admitted to 18 separate charges, including possession and sharing of indecent images, as well as attempting to communicate with children for sexual purposes.
The police launched their investigation in 2022 after detecting suspicious online activity associated with Keenor.
Officers undertook covert operations, engaging with Keenor through various undercover identities posing as children or the parents of children.
A consistent pattern in his offending was his use of popular chat platforms such as Wikr, WhatsApp, and Kik to establish contact with individuals he believed were minors, sending graphic images and discussing disturbing sexual activities.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred in June of the previous year when Keenor reached out to what he thought was the father of a 12-year-old girl on a fetish website.
During the conversation, he quickly moved the dialogue to an encrypted messaging service, revealing his intentions to have sex with the child and to drug her.
Keenor proceeded to send the simulated 'father' a total of 109 indecent videos, some depicting children as young as two years old being sexually abused.
These videos were classified among the most serious, highlighting just how extreme his depravity was.
In addition, Keenor contacted what he believed was the mother of a 10-year-old girl, proposing a meeting to engage in sexual activities with her.
He further shared explicit videos and images, all under the false assumption that he was communicating with actual parents and children.
His criminal behavior extended into December, when he sent a friend request to what he thought was a 12-year-old girl named Ruby.
Keenor solicited sexual images from her and subsequently sent images of a male genitalia and explicit content involving animals, illustrating a pattern of escalating predatory conduct.
The offending persisted into 2023, with Keenor continuing to share indecent images and encouraging the fictitious child to undress and participate in sexual activities.
His actions revealed a troubling obsession and a refusal to cease his harmful behaviors despite previous interventions.
Keenor had previously served a two-year sentence in 2013 for distributing indecent images and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to restrict his access to children and prevent further abuse.
Unfortunately, he repeatedly breached this order, engaging in similar criminal activities once again.
A pre-sentence report produced by probation authorities described Keenor as persistent and deeply entrenched in his offending pattern.
Recorder Matthew Turner noted that the breakdown of his personal relationships and his social isolation had contributed to his recurring behavior.
The judge was clear that Keenor posed a significant risk of reoffending, warranting an extended sentence as a precaution.
Keenor, residing at Rosemary Gardens, was sentenced to a total of seven years and nine months imprisonment.
Under the terms of his sentence, he is required to serve at least two-thirds of his prison time before being eligible for parole.
Additionally, he will be subject to an extended license period of ten years upon his release, during which he will be closely monitored to mitigate the risk of further offending.
