Danny Tetley, 44, was jailed for nine years in 2020 after admitting child sex offences involving seven teenage boys aged 15 and 16, pestering them to send him indecent pictures in return for money
Former X Factor contestant Danny Tetley has been released from prison after being convicted of child sex offences
Former X Factor contestant Danny Tetley has walked free from prison after serving just six years of a nine-year sentence for child sex offences.
Tetley, 44, was jailed for nine years in 2020 after admitting offences involving seven teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, pestering them to send him indecent pictures in return for money.
The singer, from Wibsey, West Yorkshire, was also handed an extended licence period of eight years upon his release, as well as being made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years. He had pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences prior to being sentenced.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed to the Mirror that Tetley has now been freed from custody having served two-thirds of the custodial element of his sentence. A spokesperson said: “These were horrific crimes and our thoughts remain with the victims.
West Yorkshire Police undated handout photo of former X Factor contestant Danny Tetley who was jailed for nine years by a judge who branded him a “despicable creature” after he groomed and induced teenage boys to send him indecent images for money(Image: PA)
“Offenders whose release is directed by the independent Parole Board are supervised by the Probation Service and are subject to strict conditions, including restrictions on their movements and contact with others. They can be recalled to prison for breaching these conditions or exhibiting behaviour suggesting they pose an increased risk to the public.”
Tetley shot to fame on ITV’s X Factor in 2018, making it through to the live shows before being knocked out at the semi-final stage. It was precisely this platform that Judge Jonathan Durham Hall KC said Tetley had exploited for his own sexual gratification.
During the sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court in 2020, the judge stated that he had “traded” on his television fame to carry out the offences, branding his conduct as “highly predatory and manipulative”.
He said: “The reality is that our society is deeply interested in celebrity, it does no harm. You exploited the status of your success. You traded on it to satisfy your perverted sexual needs.
Famously the star was catapulted into the limelight on the 2018 series of The X Factor where he came in sixth place as a semi-finalist
“Those in the public eye don’t have licence to abuse. Those in public eye have deep responsibility and many exercise magnificently.
“Many will see you for what you are, a despicable creature. In your letter to me you acknowledge your disgraceful behaviour. Tetley has shown manipulative behaviour, sexualising victims, exposing them to images.
“What you demanded and showed were blatant and the disgusting level to which you sank, Mr Tetley, was quite unbelievable,” he added.
“Many will see you for what unfortunately you are – a despicable creature with every few redeeming features. A pre-sentencing report described you as highly predatory and manipulative.
“It says you have shown persistent predatory and manipulative behaviour against children to have your sexual needs met. That is spot on to me.”
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