Child abuser who targeted victims across South Lanarkshire jailed for 13 years
Last updated 19th Dec 2023
A delivery driver who sexually abused three children has been jailed for 13 years. Daniel Cassells preyed on his young victims during a string of horror attacks.
A judge heard how a relative of one victim found the child curled up and sobbing after being put through a harrowing ordeal.
The woman later went to police which lead to Cassells ending up in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 37 year-old pleaded guilty to raping two of the children and sexually assaulting the other.
The crimes occurred between 2018 and 2021 at different addresses in South Lanarkshire.
Cassells was today sentenced by judge Lady Stacey, who also ordered him to be monitored for two years on his release.
Prosecutor Margaret Barron told how Cassells "never spoke" during attacks on the first VICTIM.
The second pleaded with him why he was doing this- but again the pervert "did not respond".
After one attack in 2021, a relative of the youngster found the child lying curled up and visibly upset.
The woman recalled: "The child did not say anything, but the face was crying for help."
The victim later confided in her what Cassells had done.
Cassells, of Denny, Stirlingshire, preyed on the final victim when he was alone with the child.
The woman who had been told about the abuse went to police in July 2021.
Cassells later handed himself in, but made no comment to the accusations.
His lawyer Rosalyn McTaggart today/yesterday said Cassells had "shown a level of shame and remorse" for what he had done.
Two of the victims had already given pre-recorded evidence which would have been played at a trial before Cassells admitted his guilt.
Lady Stacey told him: "Your behaviour was shocking. You moved from one child to the next."
The judge added she took the view Cassells may "likely be a danger to people" even after a lengthy jail-term so he will be supervised when back on the streets.
He was also put on the sex offenders list indefinitely.