Daniel Knowles: Sydney teacher jailed for explicit Snapchat with teens
The mother of a sicko teacher wept uncontrollably as her son was jailed for sending explicit messages to two schoolgirls on a Snapchat group he titled “daddy Knowles & His Naughty Girls”. He also asked the teens to send explicit videos back to him.
Central Sydney
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A teacher who sent explicit videos to two schoolgirls in a Snapchat group called “daddy Knowles & His Naughty Girls” has been sentenced for up to three years in prison..
A teacher who sent explicit videos to two schoolgirls in a Snapchat group called “daddy Knowles & His Naughty Girls” has been sentenced for up to three years in prison..
Daniel Mark Knowles, 31, worked in England’s south as a geography and English teacher in 2017.
When the Sydney teacher returned in January 2018, he formed a relationship with two of his former UK students, sending them explicit images and videos on Snapchat of himself naked or engaged in sexual acts, even asking one student to return the favour.
One victim, under 16 years of age at the time, replied that she hadn’t asked for any of it.
Both victims, who listened via audio link to the sentencing, previously told the court of the pain and suffering caused by Knowles.
One said “I just wanted to end my pain and suffering”, blaming Knowles for self-harming, multiple suicide attempts and an eating disorder.
In sentencing him to a total of three years in prison, non parole for 12 months, Judge Jane Culver told the court he had “exploited a position of trust for sexual gratification”.
Knowles’ mother, consoled by seven other family members who had flown down from Queensland, cried as she listened to the intricate details of his online behaviour, and then wept inconsolably as he was sentenced on Thursday.
Knowles was a teacher in the UK in 2017.
When he left, Knowles handed out his “professional” Twitter account to students for “education purposes”.
After Knowles had returned to Australia, he private messaged two students and eventually asked for the girls’ Snapchat accounts.
With one student, HT, he would speak sporadically and help her with her geography homework and HT confided in Knowles that she was depressed.
In mid-2018, he sent a second girl, JC, a photograph of himself naked, exposing his genitalia.
He then sent a video of a woman giving him oral sex in a bathroom, in which you could see his penis.
Knowles sent JC another video, in front of the mirror, shaking his penis.
At a sleepover the two girls told each other about the explicit messages and eventually a group chat was created.
Knowles renamed it “daddy Knowles & His Naughty Girls”.
Knowles sent a video of him masturbating until he ejaculated and JC saved it the video.
Knowles asked the girls to “make out and record it” but they refused.
The videos Knowles sent to HT showed him masturbating on numerous occasions - on one occasion he asked for something in return.
Knowles said “Oh aren’t you going to return it?” and when HT asked “with what” and send him a selfie he replied “You know what *winking emoji*”.
“No I can’t do that,” HT replied.
“After all the things I’ve sent you,” Knowles said.
“Yeah but I never asked for any,” she returned.
JC stood up for HT, telling Knowles to stop messaging her classmate.
“I’m pretty sure she’s reported it… I told you to stop,” JC told Knowles.
“You’re going to ruin my life … I’m meant to be getting married,” he said.
The school, HT’s family and then UK police were all notified before Australian authorities received the tip off.
The Australian Federal Police, in January 2019, raided the family home of Knowles’ fiance, where he was living.
The relationship between Knowles and his fiance broke down following the offending but Knowles blamed his “recurrent intrusive thoughts about sex”, which were also present during the offending.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of using a phone to send indecent material to a person under 16-years-old and one count of using a phone to solicit child pornography in June.
AFP Federal Agent Pierre Spano thanked the two women who alerted UK authorities to the illegal conduct and allowed police to take action.
“We hope the actions of these two brave young women give others the courage to speak up and report this type of illegal behaviour,” Federal Agent Spano said.
“Today’s outcome shows that if you or someone you know is a victim of this disgusting crime, the AFP and our international partners will listen, act, and hold offenders to account.”