Mold Crown Court (Image: David Angel / Alamy)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
A 35-year-old man has been told he may spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced for dozens of offences involving the rape and sexual abuse of four children.
Daniel Bremner, of The Nook, Mancot, Flintshire, was given a life sentence at Mold Crown Court with a minimum term of 15 years. He appeared via videolink for sentencing after refusing to leave his cell.
The sentence
Recorder Simon Mills described Bremner’s actions as “predatory depravity” and said the offending reached an “exceptionally high level of seriousness”.
He told Bremner: “The risk is, if you are free to or are able to, you will continue offending like this again. I can see no evidence beyond your guilty pleas that you have shown any desire to set yourself on a realistic path of rehabilitation.”
The recorder stressed that 15 years was the earliest point at which the Parole Board could even consider release, adding that he could see “no prospect whatsoever” of Bremner being freed at that stage.
He told the defendant: “Unless or until the Parole Board considers it appropriate to release you, you will remain in prison. It may be that you are never released from prison.”
Should Bremner ever be released, he will remain on life licence – meaning he can be recalled to custody at any time – and will be a registered sex offender for life.
The offences
Bremner had pleaded guilty to 35 charges spanning rape, rape of a child under 13, sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch sexual activity, making indecent images of children, and taking indecent images of children.
The court heard he had carried out a sustained campaign of abuse against four young girls over a prolonged period, filming a number of the attacks on his mobile phone.
How the abuse came to light
The offending was first uncovered when one of the victims made disclosures at school. Bremner was arrested but denied any involvement. A search warrant was then executed at his home, where officers recovered key evidence – some of which had been hidden in the attic – including a mobile phone.
Examination of the device revealed dozens of videos showing Bremner carrying out rapes and abuse. Investigators also found nearly 2,200 indecent images, with more than 200 classified as Category A – the most serious classification, according to Wales Online.
Following the initial arrest, three more victims came forward to report rape and other sexual offences.
Minimising behaviour
Even after entering guilty pleas, Bremner attempted to play down his offending. The pre-sentence report noted that he attributed his behaviour to alcohol and cannabis use while taking little personal responsibility. An experienced probation officer assessed him as posing a high risk to children – a conclusion the recorder endorsed.
Bremner has four previous convictions, including battery in 2018 and three subsequent breaches of the community order imposed for that offence.
