Paedophile police officer Daniel Bryant brought to book FORTY years after abusing boys
He
now faces jail after admitting abusing a string of boys in the 1960s, 70s and
80s - the Sunday People can exclusively reveal
A
paedophile policeman has been brought to justice FORTY
years after he first began abusing boys.
Outwardly
respectable, Daniel Bryant served as a constable over three decades and was
honoured for his youth work – but led a secret double life as a predatory
pervert.
The
married dad-of-two
now faces jail after admitting abusing a string of boys in the 1960s, 70s
and 80s.
But
one of his victims, who reported the abuse to police 25 years ago, is calling
for an independent inquiry over why it took so long for Bryant to be brought to
book.
Russel
Dawson was preyed on by the corrupt cop when he was just 13 and fears more lads
may have been abused as trusted Bryant was left free to work with youngsters
until last year.
Bravely
waiving his right to anonymity, Russel, now 45, told the Sunday People of the first time Bryant, 65, assaulted
him.
He
said: “I woke up and he was sexually abusing me. I pretended to be asleep, too
frightened to move. The following morning, Danny said nothing.
“He
abused me many other times. No one talked about things like that back then and I
didn’t dare tell anyone.
“Everyone
looked up to him, children and adults, so no one would believe me.”
Courageous
Russel first reported Bryant in 1987 but was told the allegations were
uncorroborated, even though a second lad had also alleged abuse.
Bryant
continued as a PC in Devon and Cornwall Police’s juvenile bureau for another
five years until he was suspended when a third victim came forward in
1993.
Just
a year later, aged 44, he retired on a medical pension on the grounds of ill
health. He avoided prosecution until this year when he was finally
charged.
On
leaving the force Bryant became a leading figure in a club for the competitive
sport of surf lifesaving, where he worked with many more children.
