DANIEL KELLY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN HOLSWRTHY AND NEWTON ABBOT

A man with a history of criminal behavior has been sentenced to prison for engaging in illicit sexual activities with a vulnerable 15-year-old girl over a decade ago. Daniel Kelly, a once-successful interior designer, was convicted of grooming and assaulting the teenage victim in the vicinity of Newton Abbot, an area he formerly resided in.

The court heard that Kelly, aged 40 at the time of sentencing, had preyed on the girl during the summer of 2011. His manipulative conduct included sending her sexually explicit messages, promising her alcohol and drugs, and ultimately breaching her trust through physical contact. The investigation revealed that Kelly's actions inflicted lasting emotional scars on the young girl, who only reported the abuse to the police in 2018. She expressed her anguish in a statement read out in court, stating her deep hatred for Kelly and describing how she continues to suffer from flashbacks of the traumatic events.

At the time of the offences, Kelly was 29 years old, and he had an existing conviction for similar offences, which led to a two-year imprisonment in 2017. Despite the earlier sentence, Kelly had managed to rebuild his life, establishing a career as an interior designer and earning a decent income. However, his attempt at rehabilitation was viewed as inadequate by the court, especially given the nature of his latest conviction.

Judge Peter Johnson presided over the case at Exeter Crown Court and expressed his skepticism regarding Kelly’s claims of remorse. The court highlighted that Kelly had pleaded not guilty during the trial, which concluded in June, resulting in his conviction on two counts of sexual activity with a child. The judge described Kelly’s behavior as predatory, emphasizing that in the summer of 2011, he sent the victim inappropriate messages involving references to alcohol, drugs, and sexual encounters—a clear pattern of grooming.

The court summarized that Kelly’s misconduct included providing alcohol when the girl visited his residence, kissing her, and touching her inappropriately. On one occasion, the girl visited Kelly’s house with a friend, only to fall asleep. Kelly took advantage of this situation by climbing into her bed, fondling her breasts, kissing her on the mouth, and placing her hand over his penis. These actions demonstrated a calculated effort to exploit her youth and inexperience.

It was further revealed that the girl confided in her school friends about what had transpired, but police only became involved years later after she attempted to take her own life. The court noted Kelly’s self-perception at the time, considering himself a 'Jack the Lad,' and observed that alcohol was used as a tool to satisfy his sexual desires.

Despite claims that Kelly had changed, the judge found this assertion unconvincing, given that Kelly had not accepted responsibility during the trial. The court determined that Kelly’s behaviour was deeply ingrained and unremorseful, which contributed to the length of his sentence.

As part of his sentencing, Kelly, residing at New Walk, Totnes, was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will remain in effect for ten years. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his offences and the lasting impact on the victim, reaffirming the judicial system’s stance on protecting vulnerable minors from predatory individuals.