NICHOLAS DANIELS FROM BARRY ESCAPES PRISON AFTER GROOMING TEENAGE GIRL IN MERSEYSIDE

In a case that highlights the ongoing battle against child sexual exploitation, Nicholas Daniels, a 30-year-old man from Barry, South Wales, was involved in a disturbing incident targeting a young girl from Merseyside. The case came to light in November of the previous year when the mother of a 14-year-old girl grew increasingly concerned about her daughter’s changing behavior and declining academic performance.

Concerned about her daughter’s well-being, the mother decided to investigate further by accessing her daughter’s mobile phone. What she discovered was deeply troubling: the phone contained indecent images of her daughter, which she promptly reported to the police. This discovery prompted a thorough examination of the mobile device, during which authorities traced a contact number found within chat messages stored on the phone.

These messages, exchanged between October 17 and October 31, 2013, revealed that Nicholas Daniels had been in contact with the young girl via WhatsApp, a popular messaging application that allows users to communicate freely without incurring text messaging charges. The messages confirmed that Daniels had actively encouraged the girl to take and send him indecent images of herself, a clear indication of grooming behavior aimed at exploiting her vulnerability.

Following the investigation, Daniels was arrested in January 2014. He was subsequently charged with inciting a child to engage in sexual activity without consent. During the legal proceedings, Daniels admitted to requesting the images from the girl and acknowledged that he was aware of her age, knowing she was only 14 years old.

In a court hearing, Daniels pleaded guilty to the charges under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Today, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve time unless he commits another offense within that period. Additionally, he was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his activities and contact with minors. As part of his sentence, Daniels was also ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct.

This case marked a significant milestone as the first successful prosecution by the newly formed St Helens Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Team, established in March 2014. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Unsworth commented on the case, emphasizing the manipulative nature of Daniels and the vulnerability of the young girl involved. He praised her bravery in coming forward and highlighted the importance of her evidence in securing the conviction.

Unsworth also expressed hope that this case would serve as a strong message to other victims of sexual abuse, whether recent or historic, that Merseyside authorities are committed to supporting victims and pursuing justice. He issued a stern warning to predators, asserting that those who think they can evade justice are mistaken, and that speaking out will lead to offenders being brought before the courts. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and support agencies to combat child sexual exploitation and protect vulnerable young people from predatory behavior.