Christopher Wren 69

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A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed on eight child sex charges after staff at a nearby shop caught him abusing a 12-year-old boy.

Christopher Wren, 69, was arrested in July last year after Co-Op employees saw him naked in his hot tub with his victim.

Last Wednesday, Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Wren, of Hill Road, Harwich, started abusing his victim after paying the teenager to complete odd jobs around the house.

Following his arrest, Wren admitted five charges of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and three charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13.

As the charges were read out, Wren stood with his head bowed, dressed in grey joggers and a grey Puma jumper while his wife sat in the public gallery.

Christopher Martin, mitigating, said it was the first time Wren had offended and that he was in serious ill-health, having been discovered in his cell in a diabetic coma on three separate occasions by prison staff.

He said: “The defendant is a well-educated man who has, throughout his adult life, contributed to society in a manner he has enjoyed regular employment.

“He has been married for 40 years, and his wife is fully aware of the circumstances of this offending and remains supportive if not understanding in terms of Wren.

“He has several serious health conditions – he has been diagnosed with type two diabetes and has been undergoing a triple heart bypass.

“In the last three weeks, he has been rushed from HMP Chelmsford to hospital having been found in his cell at having suffered a diabetic coma – the bottom line is that Wren is not a well man.”

Judge Alexander Mills sentenced Wren to four years in prison and reminded the defendant of the impact his offending had on his victim.

He said: “It’s clear there has been an impact and remains to be impact on the victim and the family, and I have taken that into account.

“Four years is the least I can impose in the light of the seriousness of the offences in this case."