PAUL RENWICK FROM STROUD JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND ONLINE EXPLOITATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

A man from Gloucestershire, identified as Paul Renwick, has been sentenced to prison after a detailed investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) uncovered his involvement in heinous crimes related to child sexual abuse and online exploitation. Renwick, aged 60 and residing in Stroud, was apprehended following the detection of numerous financial transactions linked to his account that were directed towards money service bureaus in the Philippines.

Authorities discovered that Renwick had been actively communicating with facilitators responsible for live streaming child abuse. These facilitators provided him with access to disturbing live feeds, which he paid for in exchange for viewing and giving instructions during the abuse of children as young as seven years old. The investigation revealed that from December 2017 through September 2018, Renwick had transferred over nine payments to streamers based in the Philippines, all for the purpose of viewing these illegal acts.

Further evidence indicated that Renwick’s involvement in such activities extended back to at least 2005, with financial records showing he had sent a minimum of £7,000 overseas over the years to fund this abuse. His arrest took place in August 2021, and during police interviews, Renwick admitted to sending money to the Philippines for what he described as ‘live sex shows.’ However, he claimed to believe that the individuals involved were over the age of 18. Despite this, he also confessed to having a sexual interest in females aged between 12 and 14 years old.

Forensic analysis of his electronic devices uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images of children. The images were categorized into different levels of severity: 45 images in Category A, 70 in Category B, and 172 in Category C. Additionally, investigators found 22 prohibited images and 22 extreme images, all of which are illegal to possess under current laws.

Paul Renwick appeared before Northampton Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges. These included three counts of paying for the sexual services of a child, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image, and one count of possessing prohibited images of children. His sentencing on November 18 resulted in a six-year prison term, accompanied by a 12-month extended license period. The court also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent any future offenses.

Commenting on the case, Danny Waywell, a senior investigating officer with the NCA, stated: “Our investigation evidenced that Paul Renwick was a prolific offender, directing and paying for the sexual abuse of children since 2005. Renwick may have thought that the distance between him and the abuse meant he could operate without detection, but the NCA’s work with partners overseas has uncovered the scale of his crimes. The NCA will continue to bring criminals like Renwick to justice and pursue those who have any involvement in the abuse of children.”