GODFREY LIGHTNING'S SHOCKING CHILD PORN CASE IN CHESTERFIELD AND DERBY

In November 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving Godfrey Lightning, a private tutor with ties to Chesterfield and Derby, who became the subject of a high-profile legal battle following his arrest for possessing a vast collection of indecent images of children. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the allegations and the subsequent legal proceedings.

Police authorities in Derby seized computers from Lightning’s residence on Silverburn Drive, Oakwood, uncovering an alarming cache of approximately 30,000 indecent images depicting children. The discovery prompted a thorough investigation, revealing the extent of Lightning’s alleged obsession with child pornography. The images included children as young as five or six, stored on his computer and backed up on discs, highlighting the severity of the material found.

In July of the same year, Lightning, aged 65, appeared before Derby Crown Court where Judge Granville Styler presided. The court accepted his guilty plea to 15 charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of minors, committed over a period from March 2007 to October 2008. Despite the gravity of the charges, Lightning was spared immediate imprisonment, receiving instead a sentence of two months served in custody and a subsequent three-year supervision order. The judge also mandated that Lightning participate in a community sex offenders’ group work program and imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to restrict his activities and monitor his behavior.

However, Lightning’s case took a new turn when he challenged the SOPO at London’s Criminal Appeal Court. His legal representative, Michael Cranmer-Brown, argued that the terms of the order were excessively restrictive, describing them as “draconian.” Cranmer-Brown emphasized that Lightning was a “very chastened man,” asserting that he was not a habitual offender but rather someone who had committed these acts in the past. The appeal focused on the police’s right to enter Lightning’s home at any time to verify his compliance, a condition that the defense claimed was overly intrusive.

The appeal hearing was attended by Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, along with Mrs Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Henriques. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Lightning had advertised as an academic tutor in the Yellow Pages, which added context to his professional background. The case took a further turn when it was disclosed that police had acted after Lightning allegedly made an “inappropriate” comment to a prospective female pupil, prompting a police raid on his residence.

During the court session, the judges reviewed the evidence, including the disturbing images found on Lightning’s devices. Lord Judge expressed a lack of sympathy for Lightning, noting that he had been viewing such material for years. Mr Justice Henriques acknowledged that Lightning would have faced a nine-month jail sentence if not for the fact that he had already served time on remand and was wearing an electronic tag at the time of sentencing. Ultimately, the court allowed the appeal but modified the terms of the SOPO, restricting the hours during which police could visit Lightning’s home.

Following the hearing, a Derbyshire police spokesperson reaffirmed their commitment to monitoring sexual offenders in the community. The spokesperson explained that Sexual Offences Prevention Orders require offenders to register as sex offenders and may include conditions such as avoiding areas frequented by children, like schools and playgrounds. The police emphasized that failure to comply with such orders could result in re-arrest and a potential prison sentence of up to five years. The department assured the public that they would continue to keep a close watch on Godfrey Lightning, as they do with all individuals subject to such orders, to prevent further harm and ensure community safety.