In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that 36-year-old William Rennie was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, after he was caught using a secret smartphone to access child abuse material while working at McDonald’s. Following proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Staffordshire, the defendant—of Silver Close, Biddulph—pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and two charges of making indecent photographs of children. It was reported that Rennie, who admitted to a sexual interest in young girls, deviously hid his criminal history from his employer.
The investigation established that Rennie was already subject to a lifetime SOPO following a 2012 conviction for possessing indecent images. Staffordshire Police reported that during a home monitoring visit in November 2017, Rennie repeatedly lied to officers, handing over an old mobile phone while denying he possessed any internet-enabled devices. The prosecution reported that investigators became suspicious and discovered he was working at a McDonald’s restaurant where he had failed to declare his previous convictions.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Rennie’s deception was uncovered through the analysis of workplace security footage. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that CCTV from the McDonald’s restaurant showed Rennie using an unauthorized smartphone in the staff rest area. The investigation established that when police arrested him in December 2017, they discovered the hidden devices which, upon forensic analysis, were found to contain further sickening images of children.
Prosecutor Caroline Harris presided over the evidence which detailed Rennie’s flagrant disregard for the court orders meant to restrict his access to children and technology. For his actions in Biddulph and the digital space, Rennie was handed a 32-week suspended sentence in 2020. The judge noted that as part of the sentence, Rennie was required to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity and attend an accredited programme designed to address his predatory interests.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of William Rennie as of March 31, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 8 months suspended for 2 years (Sentenced 2020; completed).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2027 (7-year period).
- SOPO/SHPO Status: Indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order remains active.
- Financial Penalty: Ordered to pay £350 in costs.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, following a Staffordshire Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Making indecent photographs of children; Breach of SOPO (3 counts).
- Origin: Silver Close, Biddulph, Staffordshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Rennie is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Staffordshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the devious concealment of his past from an employer and the use of hidden technology in a public workplace, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of lying to monitoring officers while actively seeking out abuse material requires the most intensive level of digital forensic inspection by the Staffordshire Police MOSOVO team.
As a registered sex offender until 2027, Rennie’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behavior demonstrated a predatory willingness to bypass safeguarding measures to satisfy his attraction to young girls. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any undeclared internet devices, or any attempt to seek employment in child-centric environments in Biddulph or Stoke-on-Trent without full disclosure will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.