DANIEL NORTON FROM CHEADLE PLEADS GUILTY OVER DISTURBING CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS SPREAD ACROSS HAMPSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Daniel Norton, a resident of Birtles Close in Cheadle, has admitted to multiple serious charges related to child abuse and the distribution of explicit material involving minors. The proceedings took place at Southampton Crown Court, where Norton appeared to face the consequences of his actions.

Back in January 2018, Hampshire Police issued a stark warning to parents nationwide after discovering a highly disturbing video created by Norton. This video, which depicted two children from Hampshire engaging in sexual acts, was circulated extensively across popular social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The widespread sharing of this material prompted authorities to alert the public, urging parents to educate their children about the dangers of sharing such content and to be vigilant about what their children might encounter online.

Norton, aged 26 at the time, pleaded guilty to eight counts of child abuse during his court appearance. His charges included causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, with incidents occurring between October 1 and December 1, 2017. The victims ranged in age from as young as four and five years old to teenagers aged 13 and 15. The court also heard that Norton had produced numerous indecent moving images of children, spanning various levels of severity, and possessed 20 images classified as extreme pornography, which involved both a person and an animal, and were deemed obscene.

Following his initial court appearance at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on December 6, 2017, authorities informed the public that one of the videos created by Norton had been shared across multiple platforms and was making its way into the news cycle. Detective Superintendent Rachel Farrell issued a statement emphasizing the ongoing support provided to the victims, who are receiving assistance from specialized police officers and partner agencies. She stressed the importance of children and young people deleting any such videos they might receive and reporting them to a trusted adult, such as a parent or teacher. Farrell also highlighted the legal risks associated with sharing or forwarding such content, warning that doing so could constitute a criminal offense.

She further explained that police do not seek to criminalize children who make mistakes but are committed to preventing further harm. Farrell pointed out the increasing danger posed by offenders who hide their identities online and manipulate children into forming false friendships, emphasizing that no child is immune to these online threats.

During his court hearing on Wednesday, Norton, a resident of Cheadle in the Stockport area, formally entered guilty pleas to all charges. The court was advised by his legal representative, Matthew Jewell, to prepare a pre-sentence report to assess the level of danger Norton might pose. Judge Nicholas Rowland indicated that a custodial sentence would be imposed at the next hearing and that part of the assessment would determine whether Norton is considered a dangerous offender.

Members of the public and concerned individuals are encouraged to report any suspicions of online child sexual abuse through the CEOP platform, accessible via the ClickCEOP reporting button at www.ceop.police.uk, to help protect children from similar threats in the future.