Pervert back in jail after tricking mum into relationship

Sex offender in breach of probation terms

A pervert who tried to hide his past by changing his name is back behind bars – after sleeping in the same home as a child.

When a mother from Folkestone this summer agreed to a relationship with Daniel Davis, 40, she had no idea he was a convicted sex offender, recently released from jail, a court heard.

Davis, of Cudworth Road, Ashford, spun a web of lies insisting he worked for a fairground and had been to prison for drink driving.

But she soon discovered her new man was Daniel Bessell, a pervert who changed his name and grew a ponytail after being caught with child-abuse images.

Folkestone Magistrates Court heard how Davis stayed with the woman and her child in July, a breach of his prison licence.

Prosecutor Neil Sweeney also told how he failed to tell police he was staying at the Folkestone home for seven nights.

Reading her witness statement, he added: “She was told he worked in fairgrounds and conceded he did time in jail for drinkdriving.”

Defending, Robert Quinn said there was “no malicious intention” in the stay, adding Davis simply “hadn’t understood” the terms of his licence.

But district judge John Baron sentenced unemployed Davis to eight weeks behind bars after probation officer Jane Bratton dismissed the claims.

Mr Quinn said: “As you have seen, my client can have trouble understanding things explained to him. My client didn’t understand [the stay] would cause a breach of his licence.”

Miss Bratton said: “He was able to change his name by deed poll, which is quite a hard thing to do, so I question what has been said.”

Last year Davis was recalled to prison after fleeing to Devon without notifying the probation services.

On his second release in February, Bessell changed his name to Davis to help conceal his identity.

Judge Baron said: “These orders are in place to protect children.

“I’m sceptical you didn’t know you had to tell the police [about the stay]. I believe it was a deliberate breach.

“That breach has put you into a household where children can stay. I am sending you to prison.”

Davis will spend 10 years on the sex offenders register and pay a £115 fine on release.

‘My client can have trouble understanding things explained to him

Picture: Kent Police Daniel Davis changed his name by deed poll from Daniel Bessell after being caught with child-abuse images