Blackpool child sex offender jailed

A man from Blackpool has been jailed for 21 sexual offences against children, including two counts of rape.

Daniel Pritchard, 44, was sentenced today at Preston Crown Court to 26 years in prison with a two-year extended licence and given a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Pritchard was convicted after a three-week trial of 21 sexual offences against five children between February 2015 and September 2021.

Pritchard denied the offences when spoken to by police and maintained throughout the investigation and court process that he hadn’t committed any sexual offences.

The five children, who were aged between seven and fourteen when the abuse took place, all gave evidence against Pritchard at court.

Brett Gerrity, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual offence unit, said: “Daniel Pritchard is a sexual predator who preys on the innocence of children.

“Working closely with Lancashire Police, the Crown Prosecution Service were able to build a strong case against him. The jury convicted Pritchard of 21 of the 23 offences he faced at trial.

“The offences he committed against the children were sickening. He exploited their vulnerability without any thought to the impact his abuse may have on them.

“The abuse will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the victims, but I hope that today's sentence will provide them with some sense of justice and allow them to move forward, knowing Pritchard has been punished for what he did to them.”