DANIEL HALL FROM BARNSTAPLE AND SOUTH MOLTON JAILED FOR ENDANGERING CHILDREN

In August 2014, a man identified as Daniel Hall, with connections to Barnstaple and South Molton, was sentenced to prison after a series of alarming breaches of court orders designed to protect children from harm.

Hall, aged 55, was classified as a high-risk sex offender due to his past criminal activities and was under strict legal restrictions following his previous conviction. His criminal history includes a four-and-a-half-year imprisonment for abusing two boys he had picked up at a seaside amusement arcade. Despite serving his sentence, Hall continued to pose a significant threat to the safety of children, which led to the implementation of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

The SOPO explicitly prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children, being in the company of a child for more than 15 minutes, or loitering near schools. These restrictions were put in place to prevent any further harm, but Hall blatantly disregarded them.

The incident that led to his arrest occurred in South Molton, where police officers monitoring his activities noticed a child seat in the back of his vehicle. This observation raised immediate concerns, as Hall had been giving lifts to two boys and two girls, all under the age of ten. Further investigation revealed that Hall had been making regular visits to a local family, befriending them and bringing alcohol for the parents and sweets for the children. He had offered to assist with school and nursery runs, creating a false sense of familiarity and trust.

The mother of the four children was unaware of Hall’s criminal background and was horrified when police disclosed the details. She stated that her children had never been alone with Hall, although a neighbor claimed to have seen two boys in his car unsupervised. Hall had previously lied about the presence of a child seat in his vehicle, claiming it was there when he bought the car, but police investigations proved otherwise.

Further inquiries uncovered that Hall had a long history of convictions dating back to 1985, including multiple instances of sexually assaulting boys aged between eight and ten. His past offenses involved luring children with sweets and other manipulative tactics. He had been released from prison twice but was recalled each time due to concerns from law enforcement that he continued to pose a danger to the public.

During the court proceedings at Exeter Crown Court, the prosecution highlighted Hall’s dangerous history and the breach of his SOPO. Laura Searle, representing the prosecution, emphasized that Hall’s actions in South Molton demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court’s orders and the safety of children. She pointed out that police had become suspicious of his behavior earlier that summer, leading to his arrest.

Hall admitted to breaching the SOPO and was subsequently sentenced to 16 months in prison by Judge Erik Salomonsen. The judge also ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, underscoring the seriousness of his violations. In his remarks, the judge expressed concern about the ongoing risk Hall posed to children, noting that police monitoring had made it clear what restrictions were in place.

Representing the defense, David Sapiecha argued that Hall was eager to work with a Christian center in Barnstaple and was willing to engage with probation services to reduce his risk level. He claimed that Hall had become socially isolated and that his meeting with the family was motivated solely by a desire for friendship, not any malicious intent.

Ultimately, the court’s decision reflected the need to prioritize child safety above all else, with the judge emphasizing the importance of ongoing supervision and monitoring to prevent any future harm from Hall or individuals with similar histories.