DANIEL SLOAN AND SHOCKING CHILDREN'S CONTACT IN NEWCASTLE
Parents in Newcastle were left deeply shocked and horrified after discovering that Daniel Sloan, a convicted sex offender, had been engaging in sinister and inappropriate contact with children in their community.Sloan, who had previously served time for past offenses, appeared to approach youngsters under the guise of kindness, utilizing gestures such as buying doughnuts, showing off unusual physical traits like his double joints, and claiming to do gymnastics.
However, beneath this seemingly benign facade lurked a disturbing sexual interest in minors.
In April 2018, Sloan was sentenced to three years in prison following convictions for attempted grooming and inciting sexual activity involving a child.
As part of his sentencing, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from having contact or seeking contact with any child unless the child's parent was fully aware of Sloan’s conviction and consented to such interaction, with all meetings being supervised.
Despite these legal restrictions, Sloan breached the order multiple times after his release, notably engaging in unlawful contact with children in the Hebburn area.
The breach of the order was brought to public attention when a mother in Newcastle observed Sloan watching children as they played freely on a grassy verge.
She also noticed Sloan engaging in conversation with one of the children.
On another occasion, in June, the same mother returned home to find Sloan speaking to children over a garden fence while her own daughter played nearby in a friend’s front yard.
Concerned, she took her daughter indoors and inquired about Sloan’s words and actions.
Her daughter explained Sloan had been very ‘kind,’ demonstrating his flexible joints and attempting to show how he could go ‘cock-eyed,’ behavior that alarmed the mother.
The prosecution, represented by Christopher Rose, told Newcastle Crown Court that the mother recounted how Sloan had held a ruler above his head while her daughter’s friend tried to jump for it, and had also suggested that the girl take a shower after she had soiled her feet by taking off her shoe.
The mother further revealed that when she asked her daughter for Sloan’s name, she looked him up online and was shocked by the details she uncovered.
This prompted her to alert other parents and contact the police.
In her victim impact statement, the mother expressed her distress: “I felt sick to the stomach at the thought of anything else happening to the children.
I wish I had found out earlier; this has caused me distress, worry, and anxiety.” Another parent, a father of a younger girl, also reported witnessing Sloan speaking to his daughter.
According to the prosecution, Rose explained that on one occasion, this father observed Sloan looking out of an upstairs window and saw his own daughter emerge from Sloan’s flat’s front door.
The father approached and found her outside the property, reinforcing his concern.
He believed he had repeatedly seen her exit Sloan’s premises, although Sloan denied that any child had entered his home.
Further troubling behavior was documented, including Sloan purchasing doughnuts for a girl who was seen holding the treats as she exited his door, standing beside him—a clear indication of grooming behavior.
In June, another alarming incident occurred when Sloan, from inside his house with open windows, talked to a young girl outside, claiming he did gymnastics and asking if she did, while also offering her more doughnuts, specifically saying, “not jam.” This escalation prompted a concerned father to review a news report about Sloan’s criminal past.
The police were subsequently called and Sloan was detained.
During the arrest, Sloan protested that he felt unsafe after the community learned of his previous convictions.
He also resisted arrest, complicating the officers’ efforts.
The father described how his daughter now suffers from nightly nightmares, waking up crying and asking if Sloan is coming back to take her away.
She has become fearful and exhibits signs of trauma, such as crying in her sleep and being reluctant to be alone or play outside.
Teachers have also raised concerns, noting that she has been drawing violent images, including scenes of Daniel Sloan with a knife and blood, revealing her understanding of what a pedophile is.
Her innocence has been significantly affected by the ordeal.
Sloan, aged 35 and currently without a fixed address, has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions from as early as 2005 for two indecent assaults.
His more recent offenses from 2018 involved attempted grooming and inciting sexual activity, and he has also breached court orders on two separate occasions, in 2020.
Pleading guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order and resisting arrest, Sloan faced the court’s sentencing.
Recorder Tom Moran described Sloan as posing a very high risk to the community.
He emphasized that Sloan’s actions demonstrated more than just fleeting or accidental behavior; they were malicious and deeply concerning.
“The only sensible conclusion,” Moran stated, “is that you are unable to control your sexual attraction to children.
This was not innocent, inadvertent, or fleeting—your conduct was clearly sinister and aimed at ingratiating yourself with children.” Defense lawyer Jamie Adams acknowledged Sloan’s intelligence and remorse, asserting that Sloan was aware of the wrongfulness of his actions.
Adams also pointed out the difficulties Sloan faces due to his criminal label, claiming that this stigma hindered his ability to reintegrate into society in a normal manner.
Sloan was subsequently sentenced to 32 months in prison.
The court’s judgment reflected the serious concern over his ongoing risk to children and the community of Newcastle, especially considering his previous criminal history and current breaches of legal restrictions.
