Macclesfield FC former website manager Daniel Taylor sacked after admitting indecent images of children offences doges jail with suspended sentence - told police he thought he was buying 'adult porn'

THE former manager of Macclesfield FC's website, who was sacked after he pleaded guilty to offences involving indecent images of children, told police he inadvertently received the material after paying for what he thought was adult pornography, it can be revealed.

Daniel Taylor, 31, who had been running its website, was dismissed after he admitted four offences involving indecent images of children at Crewe Magistrates' Court in February.

Taylor, from Cranford Road, Wilmslow, admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children and a further count of possessing indecent images of a child.

He pleaded guilty to the offences after insisting to police he thought he was purchasing adult material.

Taylor, who promoted the club and has been pictured with former players the late Pelé, Gary Neville, Martin Keown and Emile Heskey on his own social media pages, was sentenced at the same court at a hearing on March 25.

The court heard that he had 31 indecent images of child sexual abuse including images of Category A, Category B, and Category C in a three-month period up to March 2025.

Category A images are the most extreme involving penetrative sexual activity, a Category B image is one involving non-penetrative sexual activity, and a Category C image is one involving other activity not in the first two categories.

He was sentenced to seven months in prison, which was suspended for a year and a half, due to "a lack of previous offending" and "a realistic prospect of rehabilitation".

He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years and must sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

His mobile phone will be forfeited for destruction and he must also carry out rehabilitation activities for up to 20 days.

A Cheshire Police spokesperson outlined the background to the case.

He said: "Following information received by Cheshire Constabulary, officers from the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team attended the home address of the defendant on May 2 2025 where he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession, making and distribution of indecent images of children.

"At the time of arrest, a number of digital devices were seized from the property and submitted for digital examination.

"On his first interview Taylor he stated he had clicked on a link for porn and paid for what he thought was adult porn but instead received indecent images of children.

"During the digital examination of the devices seized, officers recovered a total of 31 Category A to C indecent images and videos of children from one of the seized devices.

"Taylor was re-interviewed and on his second interview continued his account that he thought he was purchasing adult porn."     

The offences took place between December 2024 and March 2025, while he was employed to run The Silkmen's website from its ground.

Club Chairman Rob Smethurst insisted that none of the offending took place during work hours or on its premises.

Mr Smethurst said: "He was removed from the post and moved to a different location about a year ago when we first learned of the investigation.

"He was put into a low risk role with no contact with children and the council, the League and the FA were all properly notified. He was sacked as soon as he pleaded guilty."

Ahead of the sentencing, the club announced details of the conviction, without naming Taylor, after being contacted about the conviction by UK News and Investigations.

A statement on its website at the time said: "Macclesfield FC are aware that a former office employee has pleaded guilty to numerous offences of possessing indecent images and is now awaiting sentencing.

"As well as condemning this in the most vehement manner possible, we would like to assure everyone that the individual was removed from all football-related businesses at the earliest possible time - which was over nine months ago.

"The Football Club have worked, and will continue to work with a range of authorities (including the Police, local council and Football Association), in order to ensure that our safeguarding practices remain meticulously and dynamically followed at all times.

"We would also like to stress that all of the aforementioned offences were committed privately, and not in any way associated with either Macclesfield FC or Macclesfield FC International Academy. We will be making no further comment on this matter."

Macclesfield entered the North West Counties Premier Division — the fifth tier of the National League system — ahead of the 2021–22 season.

The club then enjoyed a remarkable rise through the English football pyramid, securing three promotions in four seasons. They won the North West Counties Premier Division in 2022, followed by the Northern Premier League Division One West title in 2023, and the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2025. During that period, they also reached the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in 2024.

Earlier this year, Macclesfield produced one of the most memorable upsets in FA Cup history. The sixth-tier side reached the fourth round after defeating reigning FA Cup holders Crystal Palace, becoming the first team from the sixth tier to beat a Premier League club in the competition.