PAEDOPHILE POLICEMAN DANIEL LISHMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN COVENTRY

On 25 January 2011, Daniel Lishman, a former police officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of serious sexual offenses against children, with a minimum term of 11 years before parole eligibility. Lishman, 37, from Thorpe Street, Raunds, Northamptonshire, exploited his positions as a mobile dog-groomer and a TV licensing officer to commit at least eight crimes and even impersonated a police officer to indecently assault two young girls, Coventry Crown Court heard.

He was convicted of 26 counts in previous hearings, with four additional charges being considered. These charges included one of rape, 12 counts of sexual assault, and abuse involving a total of 13 victims, some with disabilities or learning difficulties. The case also involved hundreds of images of children in indecent poses.

Lishman, who was a serving police constable during his initial crimes, was arrested in April of the previous year after attacking a 12-year-old girl while pretending to check her boiler at an address in Southam, Warwickshire. During his arrest, detectives discovered a hidden camera memory card in his sock, which contained images of Lishman posing indecently near an eight-year-old girl who had been blindfolded with taped goggles inside his dog-grooming van.

Judge Peter Carr, presiding at Coventry Crown Court, sentenced Lishman, stating: "About ten years or so ago, you began what can only be described as your systematic sexual abuse of your victims, who were in the main very young children." The judge also described Lishman as "every parent’s worst nightmare," noting that he was an "intelligent, but also cunning, devious and extremely plausible man."

Judge Carr expressed that Lishman’s actions had caused trauma beyond immediate victims, leaving many afraid to go out, and causing parents unnecessary guilt. The court heard that Lishman’s victims ranged from girls aged eight to 14, two young boys, and a woman in her 20s, with offenses occurring mainly in Northamptonshire from early 2001 to February 2010.

Following his conviction, Northamptonshire Police issued a statement confirming that Lishman had to resign from the force in 2002 after a woman reported sexual allegations against him. Outside court, Detective Inspector Steve Woliter urged potential victims to come forward, stating: "He sought the company and attention of children and gained their trust through various jobs, then abused that trust. We cannot rule out other victims who have yet to come forward."

Reflecting on Lishman’s service as a police officer, Mr. Woliter said: "He was required to resign in 2002. He served as both a special constable and a regular police officer. In May 2001, a female adult made multiple sexual allegations against him, which led to disciplinary action. Based on timelines from his first victim, it seems Lishman was still a serving officer at that time."

Detective Inspector Peter Hill, who led the investigation into the Warwickshire offenses, highlighted the severity of the sentence, noting: "Throughout police interviews, Lishman refused to answer questions, forcing victims and witnesses to endure identification procedures. The strength and courage of these witnesses were crucial to our case."

Lishman's life sentence underscores the gravity of his crimes and the ongoing impact on his victims, as he shows no emotion during sentencing.