3rd September 2015
CHILD SEX CRIMINAL DANIEL SHUTTLEWOOD PROSECUTED BY THE SPA AND SENTENCED TO 10
YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT
Mr Daniel Shuttlewood (30) was today sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment at Portsmouth Court Martial
Centre after being convicted of several historic sexual offences against under age girls in the 2000s.
On 24 Jul 15 Shuttlewood who had pleaded Not Guilty was found Guilty of four charges by a civilian board
(or “jury”) at Bulford Court Martial Centre. He was convicted of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual
activity with a child (under 16) involving penetration; considered an aggravating factor. Shuttlewood was
acquitted of indecent assault whilst on a school trip against a 15 year old, in 2003. Since the trial he has
appealed against his four-charge conviction.
Shuttlewood groomed two underage girls utilising his position of authority and later social media, to enable
his offending. Arrested on 30 Aug 13 Shuttlewood claimed that he did not know the age of the girls he made
contact with and that sexual activity was consensual.
In 2003 Shuttlewood befriended a girl aged 14/15 when he was 17/18 years old. Some months later
Shuttlewood arranged to meet the girl at some disused squash courts on site at the Joint Headquarters
Germany (JHQ) where he raped her.
In 2009 when Shuttlewood was 24 years old and working at a media company in Rheindahlen he used
Facebook to befriend and begin grooming a girl aged 14/15, who was the sister of one of his colleagues. The
crimes including oral sexual penetration took place over a number of months. During this time Shuttlewood
had an increasing number of sexual encounters with the 14/15 year old girl, culminating in her rape at his
parents’ house.
Shuttlewood lived with his family in 2003/4 and again when back in Germany in 2009. His father was a
teacher at the Windsor British Military School in Rheindahlen, Germany. As a dependent of his father
Shuttlewood was a “civilian subject to service law” and criminal law of England and Wales. For this reason
the case was referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority.
Notes to Editors
The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) is the British Armed Forces’ independent prosecuting authority.
Other recent successful prosecutions by the SPA include:
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Ex-Sgt Alan McCurry was charged with 12 counts, a combination of Indecent Assault of a Child,
Gross Indecency with a Child, Rape and attempted Rape of a Child. The trial directly concerned two
victims, girls aged 4 about 4 or 5 when the abuse began and 14 to 16 when it ended. The abuse took
place in the 1970s and 1980s.
McCurry pleaded Not Guilty to all charges and on 3 Jul 15 he was convicted of 9 out of the 12
charges at the Sennelager Court Martial Centre in Germany.
McCurry has since applied for permission to appeal against conviction.
McCurry was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on 30 Jul 15.
On 17 Mar 15 Ex-LCpl Damian Spamer was convicted by a court martial of Sexual Assault upon a
female.
Spamer received 5 years’ imprisonment at sentencing, which took place on 21 Apr 15. He applied for
permission to appeal against both conviction (on 7 Apr 15) and later sentence, on 21 Apr 15. The
(civilian) single Judge who reviewed the application rejected it. Recently Spamer has renewed his
application.
In lieu of a Commanding Officer (CO) who is able to deal with minor offences against service law, any
“civilian subject to service law” will appear before the Service Civilian Court. Where the SPA directs charges
that are more serious however the offender will be tried at Court Martial, subject to the referred case passing
the necessary interest tests.
Shuttlewood was tried by an all-civilian board, or “jury” at Court Martial. This is normal where the defendant
is himself a civilian.
Media and Press enquiries should be made to Mr Nick Caley, whose full details are included in his signature,
or emailed to SPA-media@mod.uk for the attention of Stephanie Joannou.
Ends