Top judge allows naming of sick Walsall teaching assistant who sexually preyed on disabled young boys whilst befriending families
The name of the Walsall teaching assistant guilty of sexually abusing disabled children in his care can now be revealed.
The Black Country's top judge Justice Michael Chambers KC reversed his own decision last week and allowed the naming of Daniel Clarke.
The judge made his move this morning (Thursday) at the start of Clarke's sentencing for sexually abusing disabled children in his care at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
The 28-year-old's from Signal Grove, Bloxwich, name had been kept secret at the behest of West Midlands Police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The police are mounting a mammoth investigation into Clarke's abuse of a possible 81 victims, many believed to be children and disabled, and did not want a future trial to be prejudiced by the public being aware of Clarke already being guilty of abusing disabled children in his care.
However, the Express & Star challenged the anonymity order on public interest grounds and the need to report news contemporaneously. Also with prosecutor Darren Oscroft admitting the police will not be ready to charge Clarke with new crimes for another year and the current backlog in the justice system meaning any trial might not be until 2028 or 2029.
With Clarke's name now in the public domain other victims or their families might come forward knowing their accusations will be taken seriously. The public gallery was packed with Clarke's young victims' families determined to see him jailed.
Justice Chambers deleted two orders protecting Clarke's identity, a Contempt of Court ruling by Judge Amy Jacobs in February and his own ruling from last week under the Education Act.
He said: "Revisiting my decision, I am minded to reverse my decision. The press argued impressively about the need for news to be reported contemporaneously with no prospect of charges not being brought for a year and the subsequent wait for proceedings.
"When listening to submissions I was less concerned about compromising any investigation, the naming of a defendant often encourages others to come forward. I was more concerned about compromising any future trial and charges. However, as those in the press argued they do not seem to be imminent."
The paedophile previously pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual abuse of six boys between 2021 and 2024. He admitted touching six boys sexually and exposing them to pornography despite his victims being as young as 12.
Clarke used his role as a teaching assistant to force children to play sick sex games whilst befriending their families, already struggling with coping to care with their disabled child, as he abused their boys.
However, today, two more charges concerning a boy he abused between May 2013 and May 2015 were put to Clarke. One of sexual abuse of a nine and ten year old and another of engaging a child into sexual behaviour. He pleaded guilty to both.
Clarke will be sentenced by Justice Chambers KC this afternoon.
