DANIEL WILLIAMSON CONSETT PAEDOPHILE LIVING WITH EX AND KIDS SHOCKS DAD

In a distressing revelation that has sent shockwaves through the community, a father from Consett has spoken out about the horrifying discovery that the man living with his ex-partner and their children was a wanted paedophile, Daniel Williamson. The father, whose identity remains confidential, recounted the moment he learned the truth through a newspaper article in the Chronicle, an experience that he describes as the most terrifying of his life.

He explained that he had been aware of his ex-partner’s new relationship with a man named Dan, who was a tattooist from Consett, and that she had moved him into her home in Newcastle. The children, two of whom were under the age of 16, had begun calling this man “dad,” which added to the father’s unease. It was not until the police publicly identified Daniel Williamson as one of the UK’s most wanted fugitives that he realized the full extent of the danger.

Williamson, aged 36 at the time, had been on the run since 2010 after fleeing from his Consett residence following allegations of sexually abusing a teenage girl over a four-year period. The father vividly recalls reading about Williamson in the Chronicle on January 13, 2012, and initially dismissing it as a coincidence, since he did not know Williamson’s full name or appearance. However, the situation took a darker turn when his eldest son received a Facebook message from a friend, who had seen the article and asked if he knew that his mother’s boyfriend was a paedophile.

Stunned and alarmed, the father told his son that the message was probably false and urged him to ask for proof. When the boy responded that the article was in the Chronicle, the father’s blood ran cold. Overcome with shock, he immediately checked the newspaper and the internet, realizing with horror that the man who had been living with his children was the same individual wanted by police.

Following this discovery, Williamson handed himself into police the day after his photograph appeared in the Chronicle. His arrest was prompted by recognition from a member of the local community in Benwell, who identified him from the media coverage. Initially, Williamson attempted to flee but later surrendered at Etal Lane Police Station. He faced multiple charges, including 11 counts of indecently touching a girl aged between 11 and 15 over a four-year period.

During his time in custody, Williamson’s partner continued to support him, even visiting him in prison. The father expressed his anger and disappointment, stating, “She was still going to prison to visit him. She seemed to deny he’d done anything wrong. He was on the run for a year and all that time he was living with her and my children. She chose him over her children as far as I’m concerned.”

Williamson denied all allegations, but the court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse beginning around 2006 or 2007, when the victim was just 11 years old and living in Consett. Prosecutor Shaun Dodds described her fear of Williamson, noting that she only found the courage to fight back when she turned 15. A video interview played in court captured her account, stating, “He’s quite a scary man and he’s really angry and you try to make him happy all the time.”

On September 26, 2010, the victim formally reported the abuse to police, which led to Williamson’s disappearance and a subsequent manhunt. After deliberating for approximately four hours, the jury found Williamson guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse. Judge Martin Bethal sentenced him to four years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his crimes: “You have been found guilty of a substantial number of sexual offences against a girl. Over a period of years, you abused her by sexually assaulting her.”

In addition to his imprisonment, Williamson was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, prohibiting him from having contact with any girl under 16 without parental or guardian consent, and requiring the guardian to be informed of his convictions. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The father expressed relief at the outcome, stating, “I’m relieved he’s locked up. I’m happy he’s in prison and can’t hurt any more children.”