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| Walsall man who abused disabled children may have 81 victims | Walsall man who abused disabled children may have 81 victims |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Daniel Clarke, from Walsall, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was jailed for seven years and six months, after pleading guilty to sexual offences against six vulnerable children | Daniel Clarke, from Walsall, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was jailed for seven years and six months, after pleading guilty to sexual offences against six vulnerable children |
| A teaching assistant may have abused "well over 81" children with special educational needs and disabilities, it can now be revealed. | A teaching assistant may have abused "well over 81" children with special educational needs and disabilities, it can now be revealed. |
| Daniel Clarke, of Bloxwich near Walsall, has been jailed for seven years and six months, after pleading guilty to sexual offences against six vulnerable children. | |
| But a major investigation is under way by West Midlands Police, who believe he could be one of the most prolific sex offenders of recent times. | But a major investigation is under way by West Midlands Police, who believe he could be one of the most prolific sex offenders of recent times. |
| Clarke, 28, can now be named after the BBC successfully challenged an order, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, withholding his identity from the public. | Clarke, 28, can now be named after the BBC successfully challenged an order, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, withholding his identity from the public. |
| During the sentencing, the court heard the mother of one victim had paid Clarke £3,500 for work as a personal assistant for her child, but had been left feeling like she had been "paying him to abuse her son", who has contemplated suicide. | |
| Her boy was one of the "particularly vulnerable" children, all of whom had additional needs and disabilities, that Clarke, "abused his position of trust" against, the court heard. | |
| On withholding his identity, Judge Michael Chambers KC had initially sided with police, who had asked for the order because of fears publication of their wider investigation could prejudice future jurors. | On withholding his identity, Judge Michael Chambers KC had initially sided with police, who had asked for the order because of fears publication of their wider investigation could prejudice future jurors. |
| But after further submissions by the BBC, he decided to lift the restriction in its entirety, agreeing future proceedings were neither pending or imminent. | |
| 'Significant psychological harm' | 'Significant psychological harm' |
| At a hearing in February, Clarke pleaded guilty to offences including making indecent photographs of a child, assaulting children by touching, and inciting children to engage in sexual activity with no penetration. | At a hearing in February, Clarke pleaded guilty to offences including making indecent photographs of a child, assaulting children by touching, and inciting children to engage in sexual activity with no penetration. |
| Prosecuting barrister Daniel Oscroft said the defendant had worked as a teaching assistant at a school in Solihull and, separately, as a personal assistant to several children. | Prosecuting barrister Daniel Oscroft said the defendant had worked as a teaching assistant at a school in Solihull and, separately, as a personal assistant to several children. |
| Many of the details shared during a two-day sentencing hearing are too graphic to publish. | Many of the details shared during a two-day sentencing hearing are too graphic to publish. |
| Sentencing Clarke, Judge Chambers said: "Those who have special educational needs are vulnerable and require protection and support. | Sentencing Clarke, Judge Chambers said: "Those who have special educational needs are vulnerable and require protection and support. |
| "Both they and their close relatives are entitled to expect such protection and support from persons such as yourself, who are entrusted to look after them. | "Both they and their close relatives are entitled to expect such protection and support from persons such as yourself, who are entrusted to look after them. |
| "What you did constitutes a gross breach of trust and will have caused significant psychological harm to those concerned." | "What you did constitutes a gross breach of trust and will have caused significant psychological harm to those concerned." |
| 'Truth or dare' games | 'Truth or dare' games |
| The investigation into Clarke began in October last year, when police received reports he had been in an inappropriate relationship with a child, the court heard. | The investigation into Clarke began in October last year, when police received reports he had been in an inappropriate relationship with a child, the court heard. |
| Inquiries revealed he had abused children by taking them back to his home, where he suggested they play "truth or dare games". | Inquiries revealed he had abused children by taking them back to his home, where he suggested they play "truth or dare games". |
| The court heard two victims were dared to take off their clothes, before being stood back to back naked and exposed to pornography. | The court heard two victims were dared to take off their clothes, before being stood back to back naked and exposed to pornography. |
| "He told them not to talk about what had happened to anybody else," Mr Oscroft said. | "He told them not to talk about what had happened to anybody else," Mr Oscroft said. |
| The court was told that as part of his personal assistant role, Clarke would take children out for day trips and record them in public toilets using a portable camera. | The court was told that as part of his personal assistant role, Clarke would take children out for day trips and record them in public toilets using a portable camera. |
| Officers were later said to have discovered a large number of devices from the defendant's address, including phones, laptops, "spy cameras", internal CCTV type equipment and storage devices like hard drives and USB sticks. | Officers were later said to have discovered a large number of devices from the defendant's address, including phones, laptops, "spy cameras", internal CCTV type equipment and storage devices like hard drives and USB sticks. |
| He was said to have made a list of his victims, some of which dated back to 2016, the court heard. | He was said to have made a list of his victims, some of which dated back to 2016, the court heard. |
| 'A friend I undoubtedly trusted' | |
| During police interviews, Clarke was said to have denied any sexual interest in children, telling officers he was interested in the anatomy of young children and how they grow. | |
| Mr Oscroft said the crown rejected this, and read out an impact statement from a victim's mother, who also worked at the same school. | |
| She said her "worst nightmare as a parent has become my reality", with the offending significantly impacting her "confident Jack the Lad" child's character and wellbeing. | |
| "I thought there was some mistake," she said. "He was a friend I undoubtedly trusted. The aftermath will haunt me every single day." | |
| The parent who had paid £3,500 to Clarke, said her son had even asked her to "buy him a casket". | |
| "He has ruined my son's childhood and exposed him to harmful things nobody should ever encounter," she said. | |
| "My heart aches so badly for what he has done to my little boy." | |
| 'I can't hurt anyone further' | |
| Defending barrister Katie Goodman said Clarke had previously been of good character and was "deeply ashamed and deeply remorseful". | |
| "He accepts there is nothing he can do or say to fix any of the harm and there is no just or satisfactory explanation for his offending behaviour," she said. | |
| "He had expressed that he is grateful of his remand [in custody] stating, 'I can't hurt anyone further'." | |
| Speaking on behalf of police, Mr Oscroft said Clarke would almost certainly be charged with further offences, possibly more than 81. | |
| But, a "complex and sensitive investigation" may continue for another year before charges are brought, he said. | |
| Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |