Solihull teaching assistant could be one of UK’s most prolific sex offenders, police say
A teaching assistant has been jailed for sexual offences against several children with special educational needs and disabilities – with police believing he could have harmed more than 80 others.
Daniel Clarke, of Bloxwich near Walsall, could be one of the most prolific sex offenders of recent times, West Midlands Police believe.
He was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison this week after admitting offences against six children, but officers are continuing to investigate Clarke with potentially more than 81 victims, spanning over a decade.
Clarke worked at a special needs school in Solihull, but he also arranged with some parents to work separately as a personal assistant to several of the children he abused. All of the children Clarke abused had additional needs and disabilities, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Clarke admitted making indecent photographs of children, three counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child and three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The admitted offences took place over more than a decade between 2013 and 2024, when a complaint was made which ultimately led to his conviction. The fact Clarke was able to get away with this abuse for so long raises very worrying questions about the level of care that is currently available to help support disabled children and their families.
Clarke’s actions constitute a gross breach of trust and misuse of his position of power and his acts will have forever changed his victim’s lives. As well as the devastation experienced by the children themselves, this sort of betrayal can inflict huge emotional trauma on their families, who may feel their whole lives have been up-ended.
I can only imagine the anger, trauma, shock and even guilt they must be wrestling with. The blame lies entirely with Clarke for his abusive actions but I know from my experience working with parents there can be enormous psychological struggles to cope with and to learn to trust again.
Often the criminal investigation leaves victims feeling powerless, even when it ends in a conviction. A civil claim for compensation is one of the ways survivors of abuse and their families can take back control – this can include access to funding for therapy as well as direct financial justice to help put their lives back together.
My team and I are passionate about the support we give to survivors and their families so they can receive the compensation they deserve. If you or someone you love has been abused and you want to understand more about how civil claims work, please contact me directly.
