Christopher Michael Pennington

An Evesham man, Christopher Michael Pennington, has been sentenced to over five years in prison for committing horrific sexual offences against children. The case, investigated by West Mercia Police's Operation Safenet team, highlights the ongoing efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation.

Pennington, aged 39 and from Aldington, appeared at Worcester Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to six serious charges. These included the sexual assault of a child under 13 years old, attempting to arrange a meeting with the intention of sexually assaulting a child, possessing indecent images of children, and distributing an indecent image of a child. The court heard details of the 'horrific' nature of the abuse, underscoring the severity of his actions.

In addition to his custodial sentence of five years and nine months, Pennington has been placed on the sex offender register for life and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely. This order aims to protect the public from further harm by restricting his activities and associations.

Detective Inspector Gavin Kinrade of West Mercia Police commented on the case, stating: 'I hope that this result gives a clear warning to other offenders that we are absolutely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and online child sexual exploitation.' He emphasised the force's priority in tackling child sexual exploitation and encouraged the public to report concerns via the non-emergency line 101.

The sentencing took place on 11th August 2017, as reported by the Evesham Observer. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the robust response from law enforcement agencies like West Mercia Police.