DANIEL SANDERS, FORMER TENNIS COACH, JAILED IN SOMERSET FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRL

In July 2017, Daniel John Sanders, a 42-year-old tennis coach now residing in Merriott, Somerset, was sentenced to six years in prison at Mold Crown Court for sexually abusing a teenage girl. Sanders, originally from Wrexham, had previously admitted to seven counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing her to engage in sexual activity.

Sanders, who is a father of three, coached the girl—whose identity has been protected by law—for several years. His abuse took place both in his office and at hotels during tournament trips, where he accompanied her. As well as the prison sentence, Sanders’ name will be permanently listed on the sex offenders’ register, and he is barred from working with vulnerable adults and children. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.

Judge Rhys Rowlands, who delivered the verdict, stated: “This was just lust, plain and simple. You took advantage of this young girl and behaved illegally towards her. This has had the most appalling effect on her and her family.” Throughout the hearing, Sanders showed no emotion. The judge confirmed that only a custodial sentence was appropriate, emphasizing that the only consideration was its duration.

Prosecutor Simon Rogers detailed that the abuse began in the summer of 2016 and continued for approximately six months. The misconduct was uncovered when one of the girl’s friends discovered sexually explicit text messages on her phone and confronted her. The girl later contacted authorities, leading to Sanders’ arrest, during which he refused to answer police questions.

Rogers added that Sanders threatened the girl, warning her that others would learn of their activities and that he would go to prison. He also told her he might kill himself if she told anyone. The defendant had sent explicit photos of himself and text messages, which the girl initially deleted but she forgot to do so last Christmas, allowing a friend to find them. Police subsequently recovered the messages from Sanders’ phone.

In a victim personal statement read in court, the girl’s father described the profound and lasting impact the offences had on her and their family.

Defense lawyer John Hedgecoe acknowledged Sanders’ awareness of the impending sentence and remarked that Sanders had lost his marriage, career, and reputation as a result. He urged the judge to consider an appropriate sentence length, highlighting that Sanders’ only qualification was in tennis.

Earlier in June 2017, Sanders had pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a minor and one count of causing her to engage in sexual acts involving oral sex. He was granted bail until July 27 to allow for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.