Stephen Pennington

Started by: Platty (2107)

Police are hunting a convicted child rapist who is described as presenting a “real risk to children and women”.

Stephen Pennington is wanted for recall to prison after breaching his licence conditions, but his whereabouts are currently unknown.

The 35-year-old, who has links to Wigan, Blackburn and North Wales, was jailed in 2009 for raping a child, but was subsequently released from prison.

He is described as a high risk sex offender and Lancashire Police have issued an urgent appeal for information.

It is not the first time Pennington has breached the terms of his licence having gone on the run in 2018 after failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

In 2021 he was also returned to jail after police discovered he was using a false name and was in a relationship with a woman, giving him access to her children.

He was subsequently charged and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Detective Constable Stewart Marshall said: “Pennington is a high-risk sex Stephen Penninton offender who presents a real risk to children and women and I would appeal to anyone who sees him or knows where he could be to get in touch.”

He is understood to use the aliases Stephen Johnson, Steve Porter and Stephen Kayzer.

Pennington is described as “white, slim and around 6ft tall” with “short, balding dark brown hair”.