WIDNES PAEDOPHILE CHRISTOPHER PENMAN TOLD TO CONTROL URGES IN 2008

In October 2008, a Widnes man convicted of possessing indecent images of children was spared from imprisonment after a judge expressed the belief that incarceration would not aid him in managing his impulses.

Thirty-year-old Christopher Penman, formerly residing on Avondale Drive in Widnes, was found to have 41 indecent images of children stored on his home computer. This discovery came nearly seven years after he was dishonourably discharged from the armed forces for taking explicit photographs of minors.

Known also by the name Christopher Cronin, Penman admitted to the new charges and was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court on Monday.

Prosecutor Gareth Roberts QC described how, in September of the previous year, Penman's computer was seized amid concerns over communications with a 15-year-old girl online. Forensic analysis revealed 41 indecent images, some stored as thumbnails and downloaded with the intent to conceal them, had been saved and later deleted.

The court further learned that Penman had a prior conviction when he was court-martialled and discharged in Colchester in 2000 for similar misconduct—he had taken indecent photographs of children and concealed them in his locker. At that time, he received a six-month jail sentence and was ordered to register as a sex offender, a legal requirement that had not expired when he reoffended.

Defending, Daniel Dennis QC argued that Penman deserved credit for his guilty plea and had been detained at Linden Bank bail hostel for the past three months.

However, Judge Nicholas Woodward emphasized the seriousness of his actions, particularly noting the depravity involved in two of the images. The judge stated, “I’m inclined to follow the recommendations of the probation service and hand you a community order that will severely limit the way you live your life – and that is a result of the behaviour you’ve indulged in.”

The judge ordered Penman to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation programme and remain under supervision at Linden Bank for three years. In addition, a seven-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order was imposed, including conditions such as restrictions on computer access and prohibiting unsupervised contact.