JOHN KERNAN AND SHOCKING CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CUMBRIA
A deeply disturbing case involving a man from Penrith, Cumbria, has come to light following multiple sexual offences committed against young girls.John Lawrence Kernan, aged 56, has been found guilty of offenses involving two schoolgirls, both under the age of 13, after a series of criminal acts spanning several years.
The gravity of Kernan's actions was uncovered when one of his victims clandestinely recorded an incident involving him.
This victim, a girl who was subjected to abuse by Kernan, confided in her mother about the incident.
She explained that Kernan claimed the act was merely 'playfighting,' but she felt extremely uncomfortable with what happened.
Recognizing the seriousness of her feelings, she decided to gather evidence by secretly recording her encounters with Kernan on her iPad.
In a courageous move, she asked her mother to view the recording, which captured Kernan's inappropriate conduct.
The girl's mother described her reaction to the video as being 'sick to the stomach,' revealing the profound impact the recordings had on her.
The victim disclosed that she had only confided in one other person—a friend at school—and expressed that she did not fully understand how to tell Kernan to stop, though she was aware that what was happening was wrong.
Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined the details of the case during a hearing at Carlisle Crown Court.
He detailed how the offences came to light through the victim's recordings and subsequent disclosures.
Kernan, who resided on Scaws Drive in Penrith, pleaded guilty to four counts: one historical charge of gross indecency with a child and three more recent sexual assault charges involving a different girl.
All victims were under 13 at the time of the offences.
The court heard how the initial incident occurred when Kernan was himself only 16 years old, indicating a troubling pattern of predatory behavior from an early age.
The recent offences were reported after the victim came forward and shared her concerns, which led to further investigation.
The impact of Kernan’s actions on the victims was profound.
A victim impact statement read out by the girls’ mother described the emotional and psychological toll inflicted by Kernan’s abuse.
Both the girl and her mother suffered significant trauma; the child's emotional well-being deteriorated, and she now experiences frequent breakdowns, nightmares, and a loss of her previous happiness.
The mother expressed heartbreak over witnessing these changes in her daughter, who once had a carefree disposition.
The mother also conveyed their fears and the emotional toll of the case, revealing that they avoid certain areas in Carlisle, wary of encountering Kernan.
She emphasized that Kernan exploited the innocence of a young child for his own gratification, and the images recorded by her daughter continue to haunt her, causing insomnia and a spiraling decline in mental health.
During police interviews, Kernan denied any wrongdoing, claiming that he had done nothing wrong but admitted that his actions ‘looked bad.’ Investigations revealed that Kernan had made incriminating admissions to family members.
He reportedly told a relative that he had 'ruined his life,' a reflection of his awareness of the gravity of his deeds.
While Kernan’s defense argued that he was remorseful, citing that he had been exposed to inappropriate material as a child, the court's judge, Richard Archer, considered the seriousness of the offences.
The judge noted that Kernan appeared to have shown little evidence of remorse or change over the years between his initial and subsequent offences.
Recognizing the importance of deterrence in cases involving children, Judge Archer decided that a custodial sentence was necessary.
In conclusion, Kernan was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years and will be subjected to a sexual harm prevention order prohibiting him from having unsupervised contact with any children or residing in homes with children present.
The court emphasized the need to send a clear message that such offences against children under 13 will result in strict punishment, both for the sake of justice and public safety.
