BRIAN DALEY CAUGHT IN PENKETH PAEDOPHILE HUNTER STING AT LIVERPOOL CROWN COURT

In March 2018, a man from Penketh named Brian Daley faced serious allegations after being caught in a sting operation conducted by self-styled paedophile hunters. The incident took place in the context of a broader effort by the Justice Will Be Served group, which aims to expose individuals attempting to engage in illegal sexual activities with minors.

Daley, aged 39 and residing on Clifford Road in Penketh, was found to have sent a series of highly inappropriate and sexually explicit messages to what he believed were underage girls aged 14 and 15. These messages were exchanged over a period spanning January and February of that year. The group had set up decoy social media profiles to lure potential offenders, and Daley was among those who responded.

According to court proceedings, Daley engaged in a 'chain of progressively more suggestive messages' with the decoys, asking questions about their virginity and proposing to meet at Warrington Bus Interchange. In one particularly disturbing message, he expressed a desire to 'get naked' with the girl and 'explore that body from top to bottom.'

Further details revealed during a previous hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court indicated that Daley admitted to being 'sexually aroused thinking about her' in his messages. He also made comments such as 'all I’ve got on my mind is you in your knickers and bra,' and questioned societal laws with remarks like 'who abides by the law these days?' These messages demonstrated a clear intent to pursue illegal sexual activity with minors.

On the evening of Tuesday, February 6, Daley was confronted at his home, where he lived with his fiancée and mother, by members of the Justice Will Be Served group. The confrontation was streamed live on Facebook, attracting over 40,000 viewers before the video was taken down. In the footage, Daley, dressed in a dressing gown, claimed, 'I wouldn’t have gone through with it – I’m just someone who likes to chat,' attempting to downplay the seriousness of his actions.

Daley, who previously worked as a security guard and was seeking employment as a self-employed courier, was arrested at his residence following the sting. He was charged with two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Despite the gravity of the charges, he was not sentenced to prison but was instead ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and was given a three-year community order.

Judge Hilary Manley, presiding over the case at Liverpool Crown Court, emphasized the severity of Daley’s actions during sentencing. She stated, 'It was obvious that you wanted to meet up for sex. These are serious offences and young people need to be protected from people like you, who seek to engage with them in sexually charged conversations online.'

However, the judge chose to avoid immediate imprisonment, believing that a community-based order would be more effective in preventing future offending. She warned Daley that any breach of the order could result in a return to prison. Additionally, Daley was mandated to undergo up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities, pay a victim surcharge, and was subject to a notification requirement for five years. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed to restrict his future conduct.

Daley, who had no prior convictions, was also ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order and to participate in rehabilitation programs. His case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation. The sentencing hearing underscored the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from individuals seeking to harm them through digital means.