DAVID CLARKE BOLTON OBSCENE VIDEO PERVERT ESCAPES JAIL IN WIGAN

In a case that has shocked the local community, David Clarke, a soldier from Bolton, narrowly avoided imprisonment after admitting to serious online misconduct involving a young girl from Wigan. The incident came to light in August 2012 when the girl’s mother discovered disturbing messages and videos on her daughter’s Facebook account and mobile phone, prompting an immediate police investigation.

David Clarke, then a 19-year-old aviation ground crew member with the 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, had initially made contact with the 12-year-old girl through her Facebook profile. The girl, who was at the time claiming to be a 22-year-old married woman, admitted during conversations that she was actually only 14. Despite her age, Clarke engaged in sexually explicit exchanges, which included him sending her a video of himself performing a lewd act. He also requested that she send him a video of herself, further escalating the inappropriate nature of their communication.

The court heard that Clarke and the girl discussed the possibility of meeting up for sexual activity, although it was understood that neither of them actually intended to follow through with such plans. Additionally, Clarke asked her if she wanted to receive more indecent photographs of him, demonstrating a clear pattern of predatory behavior.

The disturbing revelations emerged publicly during a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. The court was told that the police were alerted after the girl’s mother found the incriminating messages and videos. When questioned by authorities, the girl denied having viewed the video Clarke sent, but she confirmed that she had seen it through text messages and Facebook exchanges. Clarke, who was then 20 years old and residing on Mobberley Road, Breightmet, Bolton, pleaded guilty to two charges: attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act on August 4, 2012, and inciting a child to engage in a sexual act the following day.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced Clarke to 20 months in prison, but the term was suspended for two years. The judge expressed concern over Clarke’s influence on the girl, stating that although she responded positively to his advances, his actions had a corrupting effect. The judge emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable minors from older predators and those who exploit their immaturity.

As part of his sentence, Clarke was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid community service, placed under supervision for a year, and required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a decade. Furthermore, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was issued, restricting his internet access and prohibiting any unsupervised contact with children for the same period.

Clarke’s defense lawyer, David Woods, explained that Clarke, who was based at Dishforth in Thirsk, Yorkshire, was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan but was discharged from the Army shortly after the offences came to light. Woods described Clarke as immature and characterized his behavior as adolescent in nature. He acknowledged that Clarke’s actions were foolish and immature but insisted they were not indicative of more sinister tendencies. The lawyer also noted that Clarke had faced the shame of his family and friends and that he had lost his military career as a consequence of his actions. Despite the relatively lenient sentence, Clarke’s future prospects remain significantly impacted by these convictions, and he will carry the stigma of his offenses for years to come.