A mental health worker for children who used Snapchat to sexually groom patients was found guilty
Daniel Knight, 32, from Burton-On-Trent in Staffordshire, was investigated by the National crime agency after one of his victims presented a evidence by means of the Snapchat app.
After they met at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) facility where she was a patient, the teen claimed that Knight contacted her via Snapchat.
He encouraged her to send indecent photos and videos and started sexual conversations. He sent her photographs of himself consequently and furthermore endeavored to meet her for sexual purposes, despite the fact that he realized she was underage.
Knight was detained by NCA officers in April of last year.
Officers were able to establish his identity after securing clothing from his residence that corresponded to the images he had sent to the teen, despite the fact that the images did not include his face.
Officers were able to identify two additional minor victims at the same CAMHS facility thanks to the initial victim, who informed them that Knight had contacted them via Snapchat.
One of them claimed that he had offered to meet her, buy her alcohol and cocaine, and send her dozens of indecent photos.
NCA investigators spoke with one more seven observers, every one of whom said Knight endeavored to reach them in a sexualised manner. However, they never communicated with him online.
At Stafford Crown Court on May 26th, he admitted three counts of encouraging the commission of an offense and two counts of making indecent images of children.
He will be tried for two counts of violating an interim Sexual Risk Order and one of stalking in the same court on October 9 this year. He has denied both counts. He set to be Sentenced for the offenses he pled guilty for after the further charges are fully investigated.
Danielle Pownall, the manager of operations at the NCA, stated: Daniel Knight mishandled his place of confidence in the most underhanded manner possible, taking advantage of weak little kids to fulfill his sexual necessities.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the victims who provided evidence that assisted in securing the guilty verdict. Their bravery is admirable and demonstrates that law enforcement will listen to anyone reporting online sexual abuse.
“We continue to do everything in our power to deal with the people who commit this kind of crime and bring people like Knight before the courts,”
Knight left his position at the CAMHS office in August 2021 following his suspension, after one of the young girls announced his way of behaving to the executives there.
The CEOP Education program of the NCA provides assistance to parents, guardians, children, and professionals in order to guarantee that young people have positive and secure online experiences.
Report the situation to the police or a trusted adult if you are being pressured or threatened into sending sexual images or videos online. You should leave the conversation right away and not respond to any further contact.
There are a scope of assets accessible on their site, thinkuknow.co.uk, for parents – to help them in exploring the web-based world and discussions about it with their children themselves – to assist with building their flexibility on the web and realize what to do on the off chance that something is not exactly right.
