March 2015

Pervert jailed for 14 years after committing series of sex attacks on three boys as young as 10

Rodney Charles Kennedy, 47, whose youngest victim was aged just 10, filmed much of his abuse having initially plied the boys with alcohol and drugs.

Kennedy pleaded guilty to 14 sex offences against the three boys and also admitted six counts of downloading or possessing child abuse images.

At Carlisle Crown Court today he was jailed by Cumbria’s top judge, Paul Batty QC, who told him: “You were engaged in the systematic debauching and corruption of young boys for your own sexual gratification.”

The court heard Kennedy committed many offences while living in the Whitehaven area.

In addition to his crimes against the three boys, he was found to have amassed an “indecent library” of more than 34,000 indecent images of other children.

Some 1,364 of the images possessed by Kennedy, of no fixed address, were classed in the most serious of all the categories. For these offences, he was given a two-year jail term, to run concurrently.

Kennedy’s name will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

February 2015

Pervert admits subjecting three young boys to horrific sex abuse & possession of 34,000 indecent images of children

A pervert who subjected three young boys to horrific sex abuse over nearly a decade has been warned he faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Rodney Charles Kennedy, 46, committed many of his sickening offences – which included having a collection of more than 34,000 indecent images of children – while living in the Whitehaven area.

At Carlisle Crown Court, he entered guilty pleas to 14 sex offences against three boys, the youngest just 10 years old.

He also admitted a further six offences relating to him downloading or possessing child abuse images on to his home computer.

Of these, some 1,364 of the images possessed by Kennedy, of no fixed address, were of the most serious category – Category A. The details of his sex attacks on the boys are too distressing to reveal in detail but as each of the charges was read to Kennedy by the court clerk, he calmly answered “guilty”.

Kennedy– who appeared relaxed as he sat in the dock – even filmed some of his abuse of the boys, some of it carried out in a London hotel, the court was told.

Defence barrister Brendan Burke said that before sentencing the court would need background reports on the defendant so right length of sentence could be determined and risk management could be planned for the time when he is eventually released.

Adjourning the case for sentence until March 18, Judge Paul Batty QC told Kennedy that he should be under no illusion about the severity of the sentence he faces, saying: “You face an extremely lengthy sentence.”

The judge ordered that Kennedy’s name should immediately go on the Sex Offenders’ Register, noting that he is likely to remain on it for life. Kennedy was remanded in custody until he is sentenced.