DANIEL GARDNER FROM CARLISLE PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE MATERIAL AND FIREARM AMMUNITION
In November 2025, a registered sex offender from Carlisle faces the threat of imprisonment after he created online usernames without informing law enforcement authorities.Daniel Gardner, now 53 years old, was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison for downloading and sharing indecent images of children.
The crown court in Carlisle heard that Gardner also engaged in online conversations with both adults and minors about child abuse and encouraged children to participate in sexual activities online.
Gardner pleaded guilty to 13 charges, with police stating the youngest victim was apparently only 11 years old.
As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and to comply with strict notification rules, which required him to update police with his personal information and online activities.
However, at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, it was revealed that Gardner violated these conditions by creating three different online usernames—two earlier this year and another between January 2021 and September this year.
He admitted to three breaches of the notification duty.
Defence solicitor Adele Graham stated that Gardner, of Levens Drive, Carlisle, had pleaded guilty early on and cooperated with police during interviews.
She said he was remorseful for his actions and that a probation report recommended community supervision as a suitable punishment.
Gardner was also noted to have experienced low mood and anxiety, and his solicitor argued that prison time would worsen his mental health.
District Judge Philip Holden emphasized that Gardner’s original offenses were extremely serious.
He reminded Gardner that he must inform police before creating any online usernames.
The judge then sentenced him to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, along with requirements to undertake rehabilitation and a 26-day program.
The judge warned Gardner that this suspended sentence is a warning, and non-compliance could lead to imprisonment.
He urged Gardner to follow his orders, highlighting how close he had come to jail during the hearing.
Separately, in 2016, a Carlisle man admitted possessing over 1,300 indecent images of children, including categories of the most severe kind, as well as firearm ammunition.
Police recovered devices in 2014.
While he was open about his addiction and aware that his collected images were illegal, he faces sentencing later that month and is required to register as a sex offender and undergo treatment.
