CHRISTOPHER TWOMEY SEXUAL PREDATOR FROM BARROW-IN-FURNESS AND PARTON SENTENCED IN CUMBRIA

In March 2010, a disturbing case emerged involving Christopher Twomey, a teacher from the Whitehaven area, who was convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a 16-year-old pupil. The incident unfolded after Twomey, who was living in Barrow-in-Furness at the time, used social media platform Facebook to initiate contact with the girl, whom he seduced through a series of private email messages and instant messages.

According to court proceedings held at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Paul Batty QC described Twomey, aged 29, as a “sexual predator” who deliberately targeted the young girl to satisfy his own sexual urges. Twomey pleaded guilty to three charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust at a school in Whitehaven. However, he denied four additional similar charges, which remain on the court record but will not be pursued further.

As part of his sentence, Twomey was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years and was given an indefinite ban from working with children. The court also heard that Twomey had previously shown interest in three other female pupils by sending them sexually inappropriate emails, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior.

Further evidence revealed that Twomey kept a collection of pornographic films and photographs, mostly depicting school-aged girls in sexual poses with teachers. This collection was found at his parents’ residence in Barrow-in-Furness, where he was residing following the police investigation. The material included 18 films portraying teachers having sex with pupils in classroom settings, highlighting the disturbing nature of his interests.

Prosecutor Rob Dudley detailed how Twomey’s relationship with the victim began after he sent her a private Facebook message stating, “You looked really nice last night.” This initial contact led to flirtatious exchanges via instant messaging, during which the girl was encouraged to dress in lingerie or expose her breasts on webcam for Twomey’s viewing. The relationship escalated when Twomey invited her to his home in Parton, near Whitehaven, where they engaged in sexual activity for the first time.

Mr. Dudley emphasized that Twomey was fully aware that his actions were wrong. He told the girl that he could not be seen as her boyfriend while she was at school and warned her that he would get into trouble if anyone found out about their relationship. On one occasion, Twomey even asked the girl to dress as a schoolgirl, complete with her school shirt, tie, pleated skirt, and socks, before having sex with her at his residence.

The relationship was eventually exposed when the girl confided in a friend, who then informed her boyfriend. The boy attempted to blackmail the girl into having sex with him, using the information he had learned. During police interviews, the girl stated that she and Twomey loved each other and described their relationship as “special not sordid,” which added a layer of complexity to the case.

In mitigation, defense lawyer David Comb acknowledged that Twomey’s career was now in ruins. He expressed regret, stating, “This time last year he was a young man with everything to look forward to in life. But now his life has fallen apart. He was in a position which required the utmost responsibility but he lacked the maturity and judgment it required.” The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of Twomey’s actions and the need to protect vulnerable young people from such predatory behavior.