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Facial Recognition Leads to Arrest of Sex Offender with Six-Year-Old Girl in London

David Cheneler, 73, was sentenced to two years in prison after breaching a prevention order and carrying a concealed weapon, identified using live facial recognition technology.

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Overview

  • David Cheneler, a convicted sex offender with a history of child abuse, was detected by live facial recognition technology in Camberwell, south London, while with a six-year-old girl.
  • Cheneler was found to have breached a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that barred him from being alone with children under 14 and was carrying a concealed lock knife in his belt buckle.
  • The girl’s mother, unaware of Cheneler’s criminal history, had allowed him to pick up her daughter from school on multiple occasions as a favor.
  • Cheneler pleaded guilty to breaching his SOPO and possessing an offensive weapon, receiving a two-year prison sentence at Kingston Crown Court on May 20, 2025.
  • The Metropolitan Police emphasized the role of live facial recognition technology in identifying dangerous offenders and preventing potential harm.