PAEDOPHILE PAUL HENNESSEY SENTENCED IN WARRINGTON FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION

In March 2007, Paul Hennessey, from Hood Lane North in Great Sankey, was sentenced at Warrington Crown Court after pleading guilty to 17 charges related to the distribution and creation of indecent images of minors. Hennessey, a father of two, used the alias 'Crackpot Porn' to sell photographs of naked teenagers on the online auction platform Ebay.

Initially, he claimed that the images seized from his company laptop and storage unit depicted women over 18, but he later admitted to detectives that the pictures were of girls under 16 years old. During the investigation, authorities also found a schoolgirl's uniform in his car, which had been used to dress sex workers in Manchester, Liverpool, and Bolton.

The police recovered some images that Hennessey had taken himself, along with others he had purchased. Prosecutor John Hedgcoe stated that Hennessey’s computer searches included terms like 'Lolita,' 'underage escorts,' and 'teen prostitutes.'

Defence lawyer Andrew Downing explained that the offenses, which date back to 2005, occurred during a difficult period in Hennessey's life. He emphasized that his client had apologized for his actions and had already endured significant consequences, including threats to his family after the charges became public. Hennessey has since found employment elsewhere.

Judge Dafydd Jones commented that only the support from Hennessey's family prevented a custodial sentence, noting, "The fact that people who own these images do not come into contact with the children concerned doesn’t detract from the seriousness because these children are almost inevitably in danger or abused. You were part of that circle of abuse even though you were not at the centre. You are very fortunate that you have the family that you do."

Hennessey, who works as a maintenance supervisor, pleaded guilty to 13 charges of making indecent images of underage girls, two charges of distributing such images, and two charges of causing these images to be published or advertised. He was sentenced to a four-month suspended term, ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years, and required to pay £550 in prosecution costs. Additionally, he will be monitored by the Probation Service for two years and mandated to complete a sex offenders' course.