Antony Farren

Antony Farren, a 39-year-old man formerly residing in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, was identified as a dangerous paedophile following a thorough investigation by Lancashire Constabulary's East Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Team.

The offences occurred in Rawtenstall, where Farren targeted a vulnerable 15-year-old girl. He groomed her and provided her with drugs to facilitate his actions, before inflicting a series of sexual offences upon her. During one instance of sexual activity with the child, Farren explicitly stated, 'It feels like I’m raping you, I need to stop,' demonstrating his awareness of the wrongfulness of his conduct yet persisting regardless.

Farren was arrested in December 2024. Despite being released on bail with strict conditions prohibiting contact with the victim, he violated these terms by sending her content via TikTok in an apparent attempt to intimidate her. This breach led to additional charges.

• Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Farren was charged with two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 16.
• He faced four further counts of other sexual offences.
• He was also charged with one count of witness intimidation.

The case proceeded to trial at Preston Crown Court, where Farren was found guilty on all counts. On 12 January 2026, he was sentenced to 15 years of immediate custody, with an additional eight-year extended licence period, totalling 23 years. The judge classified him as a dangerous offender. Additionally, Farren was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required to register on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Sarah Andrews from the East RASSO Team described Farren as a dangerous and manipulative individual who targeted the victim for his sordid sexual interests. She emphasised the seriousness of his offending and the real danger he poses to female children, welcoming the sentence as reflective of these factors. The investigation, led by officers including DC Daniel Healey, was praised for its sensitive and professional approach, which supported the victim throughout the process.