ANTHONY GOODRIDGE FROM CAMBRIDGE SENTENCED TO 26 YEARS FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the community of Cambridge, Anthony Goodridge, aged 59, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 26 years after being found guilty of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young children. The severity of his offenses only became fully apparent during police interviews, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years.

Goodridge’s criminal activities included the sexual assault of two young girls, one of whom was a toddler at the time. Additionally, he was found to have filmed another girl and secretly recorded a fourth victim while she was showering and changing clothes. The investigation was triggered when one of the victims confided in a trusted individual, prompting authorities to act swiftly.

During police questioning, Goodridge initially claimed that touching the girl, who was under 10 years old, was accidental and insisted that it was not sexual in nature. He attempted to shift blame onto others, denying responsibility for the abuse. However, the evidence collected from two mobile phones seized at the time of his arrest painted a far more disturbing picture. Analysis of these devices uncovered a significant amount of indecent material, including 716 images classified as Category C, 356 as Category B, and 416 as Category A, the most severe classification.

Among the material was a video and several indecent images that Goodridge had filmed himself, depicting a different young girl under the age of 10. When questioned about the possession of such material, Goodridge described himself as a “junkie” and claimed that viewing these images was a “fantasy” that gave him a “high,” emphasizing that he did not derive sexual pleasure from it but was addicted to the illegal content.

He also admitted to taking photographs and videos of a girl while she was naked, but he argued that he did not believe the images were indecent because they did not show her fully. When pressed further about the initial abuse, Goodridge changed his account, admitting that he had touched the girl once but insisted it was not for sexual gratification. However, under continued questioning, he confessed to sexually assaulting another girl when she was between two and three years old. He revealed that he had restrained the toddler and engaged in sexual acts with her, which he also filmed on a camera.

Further disturbing evidence was uncovered in the form of a video filmed in a bathroom, showing a teenage girl showering and changing. The footage revealed that Goodridge had been watching her before she entered the bathroom, as he was seen repeatedly looking into the camera and checking its position. When questioned about this footage, Goodridge admitted to filming the teenage girl in 2016 and described her as an “attractive young lady.”

Goodridge, who resides on Ramsden Square in Cambridge, faced a total of 16 charges. These included three counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13 by penetration, four counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13 by touching, six counts of making indecent images of a child, two counts of taking indecent images, and one count of voyeurism. His actions have left a lasting scar on his victims and have been met with widespread condemnation.

On Wednesday, October 9, at Peterborough Crown Court, the judge handed down a sentence of 26 years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for justice for the victims involved. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the ongoing fight against child exploitation and abuse.