AN appeal has been launched to find a convicted rapist.

Police are searching for Stephen Pennington, from Wigan, for "failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register."

He was jailed in 2009 after being found guilty of rape but has since been released from prison.

Pennington, 30, has links to Wigan, Lancashire and North Wales.

If you have any information about about Stephen Pennington’s whereabouts contact the police on 0161 856 3621, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.