Child Rapist Jailed After Fleeing UK Police to Bideford

A convicted child rapist who fled police in Lancashire has been jailed after attempting to start a new life. Stephen Pennington, 38, was tracked to an address in Bideford and sentenced at Exeter Crown Court.

Pennington, of Botlon Road, Blackburn, was sentenced on 26 March. He received three years and nine months in jail. This followed multiple offences of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He also failed to comply with Sex Offender Notification Requirements. A joint investigation by Lancashire Police and Devon and Cornwall Police led to the conviction.

Devon and Cornwall Police officers were contacted by Lancashire Police on 2 October 2025. Intelligence suggested Pennington had travelled to an address in Bideford. He had left Blackburn without offender manager permission. Pennington was located and arrested in Bideford within four hours. He was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

Pennington is a registered sex offender. He was previously convicted of child sex offences, including rape of a child. He fled Blackburn after breaching several restrictions. These included using unregistered social media sites. He also failed to retain his internet history.

Police Comments

Sergeant Stuart Baker, from North Devon MOSOVO Team, stated: “I welcome the sentence given to Pennington last week at Exeter Crown Court. Our join investigation and work with MOSOVO colleagues from Lancashire Police led to a swift arrest and charge of a very dangerous individual, removing him from the streets of North Devon. I hope this sentence sends the strongest possible message that police forces will collaborate across borders to monitor, manage and mitigate the risk posed by such persons, bringing him to justice when they fail to comply with the legal requirements of orders imposed by the courts.”

PC Jessica Swallow, from the Lancashire Police MOSOVO Team, said: "Pennington is a dangerous individual with numerous convictions for breaching his requirements. In this instance he believed he could start a new life at the other end of the country and evade police management. He was wrong. I welcome the sentence he received in Exeter last week. This investigation is a fantastic example of two police forces working together to protect vulnerable people and send a registered sex offender back to prison."

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This article is based on an official press release issued by a Police Force. Document: News Article - Devon & Cornwall Police Source Link: 

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