Key Points
- Cheshire Police have issued an urgent call-out to find Daniel Kelly, who is a 39 years old convicted sexual offender from Poynton.
- He is being searched due to allegations that he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) order which was made in August 2023.
- Daniel Kelly’s Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed on him because he had been found guilty of attempting to make sexual communications with a child and attempt to make a child perform sexual acts.
- Daniel Kelly was sentenced to 30 months in jail at Liverpool Crown Court for pleading guilty to the offences.
- Daniel Kelly is 178cm tall with a medium build, short greying hair and brown eyes.
- His known links are Poynton, Macclesfield and Warrington.
- Anyone with any information should contact the Cheshire Police at 101, reference 26000718294.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) September 24, 2026 — Cheshire Police have issued an urgent public appeal for assistance in locating Daniel Kelly, a 39-year-old convicted sex offender from Poynton who is wanted for allegedly breaching the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The appeal, issued on 24 September 2026, comes after officers lost contact with Kelly and determined he may no longer be residing at his last known address.
What Is The Urgent Police Appeal About?
Cheshire Police are seeking the public’s help to trace Daniel Kelly, who they say is wanted in relation to an alleged breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. According to multiple reports, the force issued the appeal after becoming concerned about Kelly’s whereabouts and determining that he may be at large in the community.
As reported by journalists at the Warrington Guardian, Cheshire Police stated that Kelly is wanted by officers in relation to an alleged breach of his sexual harm prevention order. The force has asked anyone who sees Kelly or knows of his whereabouts to contact them immediately on 101, quoting incident number 26000718294, or to visit cheshire.police.uk/tell-us.
Who Is Daniel Kelly And What Was He Convicted Of?
Daniel Kelly, aged 39, is a convicted sex offender with links to Poynton, Macclesfield, and Warrington. His Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed in August 2023 following his conviction for offences involving online communications with someone he believed to be a child.
According to reporting by the Warrington Guardian, the order was imposed over what were described as “vile online sex chats with someone that he believed to be a 13-year-old girl in which he encouraged her to send raunchy photos”. However, Kelly was in fact communicating with an adult member of a paedophile hunter group, whose members later confronted him in public.
The defendant subsequently admitted a charge of attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court.
What Does Kelly Look Like And Where Might He Be?
Cheshire Police have released a physical description of Daniel Kelly to assist members of the public in identifying him. Officers describe him as being 178cm tall, of medium build, with short greying hair and brown eyes.
The force has indicated that Kelly has links to three locations in the North West: Poynton, Macclesfield, and Warrington. This has led to appeals being circulated across multiple local news outlets serving those areas, including the Macclesfield Nub News, the Warrington Guardian, and the Manchester Evening News.
How Can The Public Help Cheshire Police?
Cheshire Police have urged anyone who sees Daniel Kelly or has information about his whereabouts to come forward immediately. The force has provided two methods for members of the public to pass on information.
People can call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting the incident reference number 26000718294. Alternatively, information can be submitted online via the force’s website at cheshire.police.uk/tell-us. The appeal has been characterised as urgent by multiple news organisations covering the story.
Background To The Development
Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are civil orders issued by courts in England and Wales under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. They are designed to protect the public from sexual harm by imposing restrictions on individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences and who are deemed to pose a risk. Breaching an SHPO is a criminal offence that can result in imprisonment for up to five years.
The order imposed on Kelly in August 2023 would have contained specific conditions tailored to the risk he was assessed to pose. These typically include restrictions on internet use, contact with children, and travel, among other provisions. The alleged breach that has prompted the current police appeal has not been detailed publicly by Cheshire Police, beyond the confirmation that officers believe Kelly has failed to comply with the terms of his order.
Kelly’s original conviction arose from a sting operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group. Such groups, which operate independently of law enforcement, attempt to identify individuals seeking to engage in sexual activity with children online. While their methods have been the subject of debate, evidence gathered by these groups has led to numerous prosecutions and convictions in recent years.
Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Local Communities
The urgent police appeal for Daniel Kelly is likely to have several effects on communities in Poynton, Macclesfield, and Warrington. First, it may raise awareness among residents about the existence and purpose of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and the fact that individuals subject to such orders are monitored by police. This could lead to increased vigilance and a greater willingness to report suspicious behaviour to authorities.
Second, the publicity surrounding the appeal may prompt discussions about the effectiveness of current arrangements for monitoring sex offenders in the community. Some may question whether more resources should be devoted to ensuring that individuals subject to SHPOs remain in contact with supervising officers and comply with the conditions of their orders.
Third, the case may reinforce the role that paedophile hunter groups play in bringing offenders to justice, while also reigniting debates about the appropriateness of their methods and the extent to which they should be permitted to operate. Finally, the appeal may have a deterrent effect on other individuals subject to similar orders, reminding them that breach of the conditions can lead to renewed police attention and potential return to custody.
For residents in the areas where Kelly has links, the immediate effect is likely to be one of heightened awareness and caution. Parents and caregivers may be particularly concerned, given the nature of Kelly’s original offences. However, the fact that police have issued a public appeal also demonstrates that the authorities are actively seeking to locate him and that they are willing to engage the public in that effort.
