Former TV Licensing Goon Used Employment to Facility Sex Crimes Against Children

A man has been imprisonment for life after a court heard how he had used his employment as a TV Licensing goon to facilitate his sex crimes against children.

Daniel Lishman, 37, of Thorpe Street, Raunds, Northamptonshire, was described as "every parent's worst nightmare" when he was sentenced to a minimum of 11 years by Judge Peter Carr at Coventry Crown Court.

The deviant had earlier been convicted of 26 offences, including one of rape and twelve of sexual assault, against children as young as 8-years-old. Three of the thirteen victims had disabilities or learning difficulties.

The court heard how the cunning paedophile had used a variety of different employments in order to facilitate access to young children. In addition to working as a TV Licensing goon he had been a plumber, meter reader, mobile dog groomer and, perhaps most worryingly, a police officer.

Judge Carr told Lishman: "About ten years or so ago, you began what can only be described as your systematic sexual abuse of your victims, who were in the main very young children."

The judge said it would be not be an exaggeration to describe Lishman as every parent's worst nightmare, telling the former special and regular police constable: "You are in my view an intelligent, but also cunning, devious and extremely plausible man."

The court heard that Lishman, who showed no emotion as he was sentenced, targeted girls aged between 8 and 14-years-old, two young boys, and a woman aged in her 20s.

The offences took place between early 2001 and February 2010 and all but one was committed in Northamptonshire. Lishman, who was also found in possession of a massive stash of child porn, used to lurk in alleyways and playgrounds and used his status as a police officer to search children's underwear for stolen sweets.

Detective Inspector Steve Woliter of Northamptonshire Police appealed for other possible victims to come forward.

Speaking outside the court, DI Woliter said: "Over the years, Daniel Lishman sought the company and attention of children and put himself in a position of trust.

"He took up forms of employment with TV Licensing and as a mobile dog groomer to gain people's trust and then abused this.

"We cannot rule out the possibility that there are other victims who have not yet come forward."

Lishman was told he will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order on his release from prison and he will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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