Cops catch convicted paedophile with six-year-old girl he collected from school

BODY-WORN FOOTAGE OF THE ARREST SHOWED REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER DAVID CHENELER TELLING OFFICERS, 'I SHOULDN'T BE WITH THAT CHILD' BEFORE REVEALING HE HAD A KNIFE IN HIS BELT

BUCKLE 22:56, 21 May 2025Updated 22:57, 21 May 2025 A convicted paedophile armed with a knife was caught by police with a six-year-old girl he had picked up from school after gaining the

trust of her mother, who was unaware of his past. David Cheneler, 73, has a history of child sexual offences spanning six decades and “could have gone on to abuse” the child who he had taken

from a London school. He was identified through live facial recognition technology when camera flagged a match with a watchlist of offenders and officers stopped Cheneler in the street on

January 10. In body-worn camera footage released by the Metropolitan Police, the registered sex offender immediately told officers: “I shouldn’t be with that child. But I’ve only taken her

from school to her mum’s. “We made a mistake, we got the wrong bus.” According to the Metropolitan Police, Cheneler had collected the child from school on three occasions, including the day

of his arrest, as a favour to her mother, with whom he had formed a relationship over the previous year. Article continues below Cheneler had hidden a lock knife in the buckle of his belt

and further checks revealed he was in breach of a 2019 sexual offences prevention order which prohibited him from being alone with any child under the age of 14. That order had been imposed

following his 2010 conviction for 15 counts of indecent assault on a female under 16 and five counts of gross indecency with a child, committed between 1968 and 1993. He served a nine-year

prison sentence for those offences. At Kingston Crown Court, Cheneler, of Bellingham, Lewisham, was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to breaching the terms of his order and to

possessing an offensive weapon. Detective Constable Adam Pearce, of the Met’s South East Public Protection Command Unit, said: “This is a prime example of how the Met is using technology to

remove dangerous offenders from our streets, and live facial recognition remains an important tool in protecting Londoners. "Although there were no allegations made towards David

Cheneler on this occasion, we are certain if he hadn’t been identified using this technology, he could have gone on to abuse this child. Her mother was completely unaware of his offending

history, and along with her young daughter, were both taken advantage of by Cheneler who abused their trust.” Lindsey Chiswick, the Met’s lead for live facial recognition, added: “The Met is

committed to making London safer, using data and technology to identify offenders that pose a risk to our communities. This is a prime example of the variety of uses for LFR. The tool is

not only used to find those wanted, but also to stop people on a watchlist who have conditions they must adhere to. “These interventions are crucial. Without this technology, Cheneler may

have had the opportunity to cause further harm.” Article continues below _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER BY

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