DANIEL MAUGHAN'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN HEYWOOD: SCHOOLGIRL'S TRAUMA AND JUSTICE SERVED

In July 2020, a deeply disturbing case emerged involving a young girl from Heywood, near Rochdale, who endured a traumatic ordeal at the hands of Daniel Maughan, a 29-year-old man. The incident, which took place in 2018, has left lasting scars on the victim and has garnered significant attention from the local community and legal authorities alike.

According to court proceedings, the young girl, only 13 years old at the time, was invited to a sleepover at a house where Maughan was staying. What was supposed to be a typical social gathering quickly turned into a nightmare when Maughan forcibly assaulted her. The girl was initially too frightened to disclose what had happened, feeling overwhelmed by fear and shame. She recounted in a harrowing statement read aloud in Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester that she felt different the morning after the assault, experiencing feelings of dirtiness and anxiety, but she tried to suppress these emotions and kept her ordeal to herself.

As time passed, the girl began to suspect she was pregnant, especially after missing her period in December. This realization prompted her to confide in her mother, leading to police involvement. A pregnancy test confirmed her suspicions, and she subsequently underwent an abortion on January 18, 2019. The DNA tests conclusively proved that Maughan was the father of the unborn child, further implicating him in the crime.

Throughout the court proceedings, the victim described the emotional and psychological toll the incident had taken on her. She revealed that she was mocked by her peers in the school playground, where she was called a liar and subjected to taunts of 'abortion' after she terminated her pregnancy. Maughan's family also falsely accused her of having an 'older boyfriend' to shift blame away from him. Despite the damning DNA evidence, Maughan initially denied fathering the child and dismissed the allegations as lies.

Prosecutor Brendan O’Leary detailed the assault, stating: “She had been to see the Christmas lights being turned on and the victim later fell asleep on the sofa with a headache. The defendant then started touching her, lifting her bra and trying to touch her breasts. She felt she could not tell him to stop. He then pulled her pyjama bottoms down and started having sex with her. She said it was painful inside and outside. She continued to feel pain the next morning.”

He further explained that after the assault, Maughan left the room, and the girl, feeling distressed, tried to sleep. Despite her friends' advice to report the incident, she initially remained silent. It was only after missing her period and experiencing ongoing health issues that she confided in her mother, leading to police intervention.

During police interviews, Maughan denied the allegations, claiming they were “a load of lies” and accused the girl of having an older boyfriend. However, the DNA evidence proved otherwise, confirming his guilt. The court heard that the psychological impact on the victim was severe, with her describing how the trauma affected her ability to bond with her younger brother and how she struggled with feelings of shame and fear.

In court, Maughan pleaded guilty to charges of rape and assault. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with additional orders requiring him to register as a sex offender for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The judge, Maurice Greene, emphasized the gravity of Maughan’s actions, stating: “Your actions had a significant and serious effect on your victim and you made her life a living hell. She had a termination, has had the word ‘abortion’ screamed in her face at school, and now lacks confidence. A girl of that age should not have to go through what you put her through.”

In mitigation, Maughan’s lawyer, Michael Lavery, acknowledged that his client had mental health issues, although a psychiatric report did not confirm this. He also highlighted that Maughan had been employed before his arrest and had engaged in voluntary work as a driver since then. Nonetheless, the court made it clear that justice had been served, and the community was reminded of the devastating impact such crimes have on young victims.