Daniel Fuge, a 38-year-old primary school teacher from Dorchester, Dorset, has been jailed for a decade following his conviction for sexually exploiting two teenage boys online. Fuge, who was working in Saudi Arabia at the time of the offences, used deceptive tactics by pretending to be a 16-year-old girl to groom his victims, leading them to send explicit images and engage in sexual acts.
The case came to light at Mold Crown Court, where Fuge was found guilty by a jury last month of inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity. Prosecuting barrister Eric Lamb detailed how Fuge targeted the first victim, a 13-year-old boy, encouraging him to send naked photos and a video of himself performing a sexual act. Investigations revealed that the same online account was used to target a second boy, aged 14, similarly inciting him to send naked images. Fuge's devices, seized in Wrexham where his father resides, contained five category C indecent images of children, further evidencing his depraved behaviour.
Defending barrister Nicholas Williams acknowledged the seriousness of the offences, noting that Fuge had shared the video of the first victim with the second. However, he claimed that 'someone else' later accessed the second victim's phone and distributed the video around the school, exacerbating the harm. Williams also highlighted Fuge's role as a teacher but stressed there was no connection to his pupils in the Middle East.
The impact on the victims was profound, as outlined in statements read to the court. The father of the first boy described his son, once 'smart, kind and considerate', as having been manipulated to satisfy Fuge's 'twisted need for control'. He spoke of the family's fear that their son might commit suicide due to the ongoing intimidation from Fuge's online presence, even at home. Addressing Fuge directly, he said: 'It's your turn to feel ashamed, it's your turn to feel embarrassed, it's your turn to feel fear of what might happen.'
The mother of the second victim expressed her constant worry for her 'broken boy', checking on him hourly out of fear he might take his own life. She added: 'You may have stolen their childhood but you won't steal their future,' and noted her relief that both boys 'are still here with us'.
Judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands condemned Fuge as a 'depraved' individual who had deceived the boys, particularly noting the threats made to the second victim in capital letters, warning that images would be shared online if he did not comply. In sentencing, the judge imposed seven years for the offence involving penetration against the first boy and three years for the non-penetrative offence against the second, to run consecutively. Fuge was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, alongside an indefinite restraining order barring contact with the victims. He is also prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The case was reported by ITV News Wales, with sentencing occurring at Mold Crown Court in 2025.