URMSTON MAN IAN GODFREY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE SEXUAL PREDATION WARNING TO PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS

In October 2018, a disturbing case unfolded involving Ian Godfrey, a resident of Urmston in Greater Manchester, who found himself at the centre of a serious online misconduct investigation. Godfrey, aged 35, was caught attempting to engage in inappropriate conversations with a minor through the popular dating app Grindr, under the false impression that he was communicating with a 15-year-old boy.

Unbeknownst to him, a vigilant group of 'paedophile hunters' known as 'Justice Will Be Served' had infiltrated the online exchange. They had set up a sting, posing as the underage boy, to expose individuals seeking illicit encounters with minors. During the course of their investigation, Godfrey initiated contact with the fake profile, which he believed belonged to a 15-year-old named Cody.

The court heard that between January 3 and January 9 of that year, Godfrey logged onto Grindr at approximately 3:20 a.m. and began a conversation with the fictitious Cody. Prosecutor Justin Hayhoe detailed that the conversation quickly turned inappropriate, with Godfrey discussing sexual topics and sending explicit images of himself. He also exchanged phone numbers with the fake profile and shared a map of his residence, raising serious concerns about his intentions.

During the exchange, Godfrey made explicit sexual references and sent photographs of himself exposing his genitals. He also expressed concern about being caught online, warning Cody to be cautious of 'weirdos' and mentioning the risk of getting into trouble. The conversation revealed that Godfrey was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time, claiming he was 'just fooling around' and unaware that the individual he was communicating with was under 16.

His actions culminated in police and paedophile hunters arriving at his home in Urmston. When confronted, Godfrey admitted to having been drinking heavily and taking drugs prior to the online interaction. He claimed he did not realize the person he was communicating with was a minor. Despite his claims, the evidence clearly showed he had attempted to engage sexually with a 15-year-old boy and had shared his address with him.

Following his arrest, Ian Godfrey pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a minor for sexual purposes. The court considered his case carefully and decided against imposing a custodial sentence, citing his low risk of reoffending. Instead, he was sentenced to a two-year community order and was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

During the sentencing, Judge Martin Walsh emphasized that Godfrey was considered a low risk of further offending, stating, 'You are a low risk of offending so you are not required for a sexual offending programme.' The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online predatory behavior and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.