FRANCIS GOFFE FROM THAME ESCAPES JAIL AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH OVER 1,000 CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN OXFORDSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local community of Thame and the wider Oxfordshire area, 66-year-old Francis Goffe was found to possess an extensive collection of illegal child sexual abuse images, yet he was spared immediate imprisonment. The incident unfolded in June 2020 when authorities uncovered the disturbing extent of his online activities.

Goffe, a resident of Croft Road in Thame, was caught with a staggering total of 1,072 indecent images depicting children and infants as young as just one year old. The images were classified into various severity categories, with 182 images falling into the most severe category, known as Category A. Additionally, he possessed 99 images in Category B and 791 images in Category C, illustrating a disturbing pattern of offending behavior.

The police investigation began when officers intercepted Goffe, leading to a raid on his Thame residence on two separate occasions last year. During these searches, law enforcement seized a USB drive and a laptop, which subsequently revealed the horrifying collection of illegal images. The evidence confirmed that Goffe had been actively downloading and storing these illicit materials over a period of time.

The court proceedings revealed that the images included children and babies aged from just 12 months up to 15 years old, highlighting the grave nature of his offenses. Prosecutor Alexandra Bull detailed the case, emphasizing the severity of the material found and the potential harm caused to the victims depicted in the images.

It was also disclosed that Goffe had a troubling criminal history, with 27 previous convictions. These included offenses related to making indecent images and breaching a sexual harm prevention order, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior and disregard for legal restrictions.

During the sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court, Judge Maria Lamb addressed the impact of Goffe’s actions, stating that his offending created a 'legacy of suffering' for the child victims. Despite the gravity of his crimes, Goffe was handed a 15-month jail sentence, but this was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time in prison unless he committed further offenses within that period.

As part of his sentence, Goffe is required to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his offending behavior. Furthermore, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, restricting his access to certain online activities and contact with minors. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judiciary to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from further harm.