DANIEL SNEDDON AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN AYRSHIRE

A heinous case of child sexual abuse involving Daniel Sneddon has come to light, revealing a disturbing pattern of grooming and assault that took place in Ayrshire. Sneddon, a man from Galston Road, Kilmarnock, was convicted of multiple serious charges related to the sexual exploitation of an 11-year-old boy from Warrington, and his sentencing has sent shockwaves through the community.

The abuse began just days before the boy’s tenth birthday in 2021, marking the start of a two-year period during which Sneddon systematically groomed and assaulted his young victim. Throughout this time, Sneddon used manipulative tactics, including giving the boy presents and gifts, to establish a false sense of trust and affection. Among the items he purchased was a Bond Touch bracelet, which he used as a means of covert communication, allowing him to stay in contact with the child even when they were apart. This device was part of his grooming strategy, designed to maintain control and secrecy.

Sneddon appeared at Chester Crown Court to face a series of grave charges, including four counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of rape of a child, and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child in the presence of others. Prosecutor Anna Pope confirmed that Sneddon had pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual offences involving a child under 18, with the victim being under 12 years old. The court heard harrowing details of the abuse, which began shortly before the boy’s tenth birthday, with Sneddon testing boundaries by exposing himself and requesting sexual acts in exchange for gifts, such as a trip to Asda and a McDonald's meal.

The abuse escalated over the following two years, with incidents including Sneddon staying in a Premier Inn with the boy, where he again exposed himself and coerced the child into performing sexual acts under the threat of further gifts. The predator’s actions were not limited to isolated incidents; he raped the boy and kept him isolated, often communicating through the Bond Touch bracelet he had purchased for both of them. As the abuse continued, the victim began to refuse wearing the bracelet, overwhelmed by Sneddon’s persistent attempts to contact him.

One particularly disturbing aspect of the grooming involved Sneddon encouraging the boy to participate in sexual activities, promising more presents if he complied. When the boy resisted, Sneddon’s anger manifested in physical violence, including slapping and choking. On one occasion, he even threatened to drown the boy in a river, illustrating the extent of his malicious intent.

In addition to the physical abuse, Sneddon paid for the boy to attend a Lewis Capaldi concert, further embedding himself into the child’s life through shared experiences. The predator also created a TikTok account with the boy, where they posted videos together. Unbeknownst to Sneddon, the child edited these videos to include a message of distress—‘help’—a silent cry for rescue and relief.

The victim’s mother discovered a crucial piece of evidence when she saw a screenshot on her son’s phone of a message from Sneddon stating, “I really liked it when you touched me in the living room.” This revelation led to Sneddon’s arrest on March 6 of this year. During police questioning, Sneddon initially denied the allegations but was later found to have a large tattoo on his arm bearing the victim’s name, which was a clear symbol of his obsession.

The court heard a personal statement from the young victim, who described the profound impact the abuse had on his mental health. He recounted feelings of confusion, fear, depression, and anxiety during the period of abuse. The boy expressed relief that he finally told the police the truth, which helped lift the burden of secrecy. He also shared that he struggled with sleep and was overwhelmed by the ongoing investigation, desperately wishing for others to believe him and for Sneddon to admit his wrongdoing.

A statement from the victim’s mother was also read aloud, revealing her feelings of guilt and self-blame, questioning what she could have done differently to protect her son. She described being plagued by constant fear about the lasting effects of the abuse on her child.

In September 2023, police contacted Ellie Weaver, a mental health professional, to assess the boy at Warrington Hospital. Her report highlighted serious concerns, including hallucinations and suicidal thoughts, which had emerged as a direct result of the trauma inflicted by Sneddon.

During the court proceedings, defense lawyer Max Saffman emphasized that Sneddon was a man of good character prior to these offences, noting his long-standing involvement with social services from a young age and highlighting that he suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder. Despite this, Judge Thompson condemned Sneddon’s actions, describing them as systematic and deeply damaging. The judge stated, “You used him effectively as your sexual plaything. What in fact you were doing is regularly and systematically abusing him. It has caused, in my judgment, psychological harm to a child. It has understandably caused dreadful harm to his family and his mother.”

The judge further remarked that Sneddon’s autism did not excuse his behavior, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed to children. As a result, Sneddon was sentenced to an extended term of 17.5 years in prison. He will serve two-thirds of this sentence before being considered for release on parole. Additionally, a restraining order has been issued to protect the victim and his family, along with a sexual harm prevention order to prevent any further contact or misconduct.

This case underscores the devastating impact of grooming and sexual abuse on young victims and highlights the importance of vigilance and intervention to protect vulnerable children from predators like Daniel Sneddon in Ayrshire and beyond.