STEPHEN PENRICE FROM WORKINGTON CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES OF YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Stephen Penrice, aged 51 and residing in Bridgefoot, Workington, faced serious allegations related to the possession of indecent images of minors. The incident came to light after police conducted checks prompted by an online scam report made by Penrice himself. During these investigations, authorities uncovered disturbing evidence: images depicting teenage girls, some as young as 13 years old.

Further examination revealed that Penrice was in possession of five separate counts of making indecent images. Among these, four were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of explicit material involving minors. The police found that Penrice had actively searched for photographs of girls under the age of 16, which raised additional concerns about his intentions and the potential risk posed to the community.

In court, Penrice admitted to the charges, acknowledging his actions and the nature of the images he sought. Despite the gravity of the offense, the judge decided against imprisonment. Instead, he was sentenced to a two-year community order that includes supervision and reporting requirements. Additionally, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed to restrict his access to certain online content and prevent any future offenses. The court recognized that Penrice posed a low risk of re-offending, which influenced the decision to opt for a community-based sentence rather than jail time.