Walsall man who abused disabled children may have 81 victims

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2qyq00wq9o

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Daniel Clarke, from Bloxwich, 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.

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.

Clarke, 28 and of Signal Grove, 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.

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'

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.

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.

"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."

Clarke, who was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court, had a large number of digital devices, one of which had a list of his victims on it, dating back to 2016

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".

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.

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.

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.

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