DANIEL SHAW BANNED FROM CHURCHES IN MELTHAM AND YORK AFTER ABUSING BOY

In February 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving Daniel Shaw, a man from Meltham near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, who was convicted of abusing a nine-year-old boy in York over two decades earlier. Shaw, now aged 43, had spent a period in the early 1990s working with young people at Acomb Christian Fellowship, a church located in York. During this time, he stayed with a local family that had a young son, and it was during this stay that the abuse took place.

According to the prosecution, Nicholas Adlington, Shaw indecently assaulted the young boy on five separate occasions within the child's own bedroom. The court heard that these assaults occurred over a span of time, causing significant harm and betrayal of trust. Shaw’s defense, represented by barrister Chris Tehrani, acknowledged the complexity of Shaw’s personal struggles at the time. Tehrani explained that Shaw was grappling with issues related to his sexuality, his understanding of adulthood, and how these aspects intersected with his religious beliefs. The defense highlighted Shaw’s internal conflicts, which may have contributed to his inappropriate behavior.

At the time of the incidents, Shaw was not officially affiliated with the church where he later became a member. However, he was involved with the church in West Yorkshire during the 2000s, which had conducted a thorough investigation into Shaw’s conduct. The church, which boasts a congregation of between 800 and 900 worshippers, confirmed that Shaw had not engaged in inappropriate behavior while volunteering with their youth programs. Despite this, Shaw had ceased his youth work with the church by the time of his sentencing.

During the court proceedings, a member of Shaw’s current church, which includes at least 12 elders, was present in court to support him. Several church members also provided character references, emphasizing Shaw’s positive qualities and contributions to the community. Nonetheless, Judge Shaun Spencer QC emphasized the gravity of Shaw’s actions, stating that his crimes represented a profound betrayal of the trust placed in him by the family who had hosted him.

As a result of his conviction, Shaw was subjected to a five-year sexual offences prevention order. This order restricts him from attending any church services without prior approval from the church’s child protection officer, prohibits him from staying in the same residence as any child, and forbids him from having unsupervised contact with children. Shaw, who currently resides on Colders Lane in Meltham, was found guilty of five charges of indecent assault and received a community order. His sentence includes three years of supervision, 150 hours of unpaid work, and mandatory participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program.

Additionally, Shaw has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities and compliance with the court’s restrictions. This case underscores the importance of safeguarding children and the serious consequences faced by those who breach the trust placed in them by families and communities.