DANIEL MASKELL SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL AND CHELTENHAM CASE FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Cheltenham, Liverpool, and Bangor, a man named Daniel Maskell has been sentenced to three years and ten months in prison for engaging in a prolonged and inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor. The court proceedings, held at Gloucester Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about the nature and extent of Maskell's misconduct.

According to the court, Maskell, aged 39 at the time, was found to have taken a total of 140 indecent images depicting himself and the young girl engaged in sexual acts. These images were captured during the course of their illicit relationship, which began when the girl was only 13 years old. The prosecution clarified that Maskell was unaware of her true age until she turned 14, but by then, their relationship had already become deeply inappropriate and exploitative.

The court heard that the relationship started in late 2008, with Maskell and the girl communicating initially through text messages, after Maskell had established contact with one of her friends. Their conversations extended into internet chatrooms and phone calls, during which the defendant's inappropriate intentions became evident. A particularly alarming message from Maskell dated September 12, 2008, explicitly referenced their sexual activity, stating: "If you get yourself pregnant I will be in real trouble."

Police investigations uncovered that Maskell's criminal behavior extended beyond digital communications. When authorities were searching for the girl, who had gone missing, they visited Maskell’s residence on Croxdale Road in Liverpool. During this visit, the girl managed to escape by jumping out of a rear window. Later, law enforcement officers stopped Maskell’s vehicle in Liverpool, where they found the girl hiding under a duvet on the back seat as he attempted to take her back to Cheltenham.

It was also revealed that Maskell had since moved to Bangor in North Wales, where he currently resides. His criminal record prior to this case included convictions for burglary and driving under the influence of alcohol. During the sentencing, Judge William Hart expressed his condemnation of Maskell’s actions, emphasizing the severity of his misconduct. The judge noted that although Maskell initially believed the girl was 16, he soon became suspicious of her true age, especially after her 14th birthday in 2008. The judge described the relationship as extensive and unhealthy, highlighting Maskell’s creation of a large collection of images that demonstrated a disturbing obsession with the young girl.

In addition to his prison sentence, Maskell was disqualified from working with children for life, ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register permanently, and subjected to a sexual offences prevention order. This order prohibits him from being alone with any child under 16, except his own child. Prosecutor Julian Kesner pointed out that Maskell’s contact with the girl was initiated through digital means and that his actions demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and exploitation.

Maskell’s defense attorney, Sean Sidhu-Brar, stated that his client has a partner who is expecting his child soon. The defense also noted that most of the indecent images were classified at the lowest level of severity, suggesting a lesser degree of harm. Nonetheless, the court’s verdict underscores the gravity of Maskell’s offenses and the ongoing concern for the safety and well-being of minors in the community.