Former Thatcham Youth leader Daniel Carter sentenced for child sex images

A former town councillor and youth charity stalwart can today be exposed as a paedophile.

A blindfolded child being raped was among the images seized from his iPhone. Others included children as young as four years being abused while visibly in pain and distress.

For 10 years Daniel Carter was a leader at Thatcham Youth, receiving a mayor’s award in 2021.

He also served as a Conservative on Thatcham Town Council before his arrest.

On Friday, September 27, Carter walked from the dock at Reading Crown Court with a suspended sentence after a judge heard he had taken steps to rehabilitate himself in the two years since his arrest.

The 32-year-old, of Deccan Grove, Thatcham, admitted possessing eight child sex images in Category A – the most serious category.

He further admitted possessing six indecent images of children in Category B.

Finally, Mr Carter pleaded guilty to having 27 images of children in Category C.

All the offences were committed in Thatcham between November 4, 2022, and November 11, 2022.

At the sentencing hearing on Friday, September 27, prosecutor Jane Davies said: “Police received intelligence that the user of an electronic address and account connected to the defendant had been uploading indecent images from the internet.”

Officers raided Carter’s home and found the images.

A Thatcham Youth committee member said that police officers have since confirmed that none of the images contained anything to do with the youth club.

Ms Davies added: “There were Category A images of children as young as four to six years old.

“There seems to be some dissent or pain in respect of these young victims; I don’t propose to go into detail in open court.”

She told the court that police had only been able to retrieve images from the seized iPhone, despite attempts to conceal them.

A laptop and USB stick were also seized but officers were unable to access their contents and Carter subsequently gave a “no comment” interview, the court heard.

Lucy Tapper, defending, conceded it was “very difficult” to find mitigating features but pointed out her client had no previous convictions.

She added: “He admitted his part once the evidence was put in front of him.

“This incident has given rise to a lot of soul searching and a lot of effort from him to understand why he was doing what he was doing; it hasn’t been an easy process.

“He has worked hard for a living and he continues to try to do so.”

She pleaded with the court to suspend any custodial sentence it might impose.

Judge Sarah Campbell said the obvious distress of the children being abused was an aggravating factor.

However, she told Carter: “I take into account the delay in bringing these proceedings since your arrest in 2022.

“In my view there is a prospect of rehabilitation.”

Judge Campbell sentenced Carter to eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

In addition, he was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community work and up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Finally, Carter was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

The Thatcham Youth committee member said Carter had been working at the youth club when the allegations were made and was immediately suspended.

He has never returned and his contract has since been terminated.

“All procedures were in place to protect the children and we are constantly reviewing them to keep the children safe,” the committee member added.