DANIEL TWIGG OF WIDNES SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL COURT FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST SCHOOLGIRLS

In July 2018, Daniel Twigg of Widnes was released from custody. Previously, in August 2017, Twigg, then 21 years old, claimed that the sexually explicit messages he exchanged with three schoolgirls were merely "banter." Despite admitting to six counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, he later suggested that these conversations were not sexually motivated.

Prosecutors described how Twigg had attempted to groom children aged 14 and 15, including promising to take a girl with learning difficulties on holiday. During the courtroom proceedings at Liverpool Crown Court, it was revealed that police had seized two mobile phones from Twigg when he was 20, which contained evidence of his crimes.

Ben Jones, prosecuting, detailed the interactions: Twigg asked a 15-year-old girl to have unprotected sex or, failing that, to perform oral sex. When she declined, Twigg reportedly responded with emotional blackmail, saying, "I do things for you, even though I don’t want to." The girl, who has learning difficulties, was initially willing to chat but became uncomfortable and told him she was not interested. Despite this, Twigg persisted.

The prosecution suggested that Twigg exerted pressure on her to comply and had promised to take her on holiday. Regarding a second girl aged 14, Twigg asked her to get into his bed so he could undress her and said they could have sex once she turned 16. He had previously invited her and her friends out for drinks when she was just 13, but her father warned her off, and Twigg later admitted he had not realized her young age but continued to pursue her.

Twigg also exchanged sexual messages with a third 15-year-old girl while on police bail, discussing the possibility of having sex "before he goes to prison." The girl later claimed they had sex in his car and referred to him in texts using derogatory terms including "paedo" and "s*** shag."

Judge Anil Murray addressed Twigg in court, stating that Twigg had attempted to manipulate his first victim, who suffered from low self-esteem and felt flattered by his attention. The judge described her as a vulnerable victim who was distressed by the case. Regarding the second girl, he said she was left "embarrassed," and her parents were "horrified, worried and devastated." The third girl was suffering from anxiety, depression, and had begun self-harming; her family was also described as "devastated."

Despite acknowledging that Twigg did not have direct sexual contact with the victims, Judge Murray emphasized that "this wasn’t just banter without any consequences." He pointed out that Twigg’s requests for sex were determined and that, had he received cooperation, he likely would have carried out his intentions. The judge stated, "It’s not the case there was no real harm here. What you did has caused real and lasting psychological harm."

Sentencing Twigg to two years in prison, Judge Murray said, "You say what you did was fuelled by abuse of alcohol and cocaine. That is no mitigation and it’s no comfort to the victims and their parents." Additionally, Twigg was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.