A much-loved serial Bigrigg Paedophile sex offender from West Cumbria, Ryan Cruden, is confronting an “inevitable prison sentence” after confessing to numerous child sexual offences involving 25 victims as young as eight years old.
Ryan Cruden, a 24-year-old man from Bigrigg with a previous history of similar offences, appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court and pleaded guilty to 26 charges involving several minor victims.
Investigating officers collected statements from five victims, while Ryan Cruden’s charges involving obscene photographs pertained to 20 youngsters.
One of the victims was merely eight years old.
The offences he admitted were:
- 16 offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
- 5 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
- 3 charges of downloading indecent child images
- 2 counts of distributing indecent child images.
Two allegations of voyeurism were ordered to lie on file after the defendant entered not guilty pleas to those charges.
Kim Whittlestone, the defendant’s defence barrister, accepted that Ryan Cruden now faces an inevitable jail term but asked the judge to adjourn sentencing.
She was doing that, she said, for two reasons: firstly, because the Probation Service needs time to prepare a pre-sentence report on the defendant; and secondly so that a psychological report can be prepared.
This will address the issue of the risk that Ryan Cruden poses to the public.
Adjourning sentencing until November 7, Judge Michael Fanning said the report should address the potential danger posed by Ryan Cruden, who will remain remanded in custody until the day of his sentencing.
He also requested that impact statements are taken from the child victims.
The judge told the defendant: “Mr Ryan Cruden, you have entered guilty pleas to almost all of the offences. The two matters you have pleaded not guilty to will not be proceeded with. It would be extremely rare for future action to be taken…
“You have previous convictions for similar offending and the court has to have concern about the risk you pose to the public of causing serious harm.
“Therefore, a pre-sentence report and a psychological assessment will have to be undertaken.”
The judge pointed out Ryan Cruden, who was 22 when he began the offending presently before the court, will have his name put on to the Sex Offender Register.
How long this will be for will depend on the sentence imposed.
Ryan Cruden was told he will get credit for his guilty pleas.
Ryan Cruden has multiple active accounts covering many social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X….
His Facebook account has over 1200 friends who support this paedophile child rapist.
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