JORDAN GODDARD FROM PENRITH JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ONLINE ABUSE

In a significant case that has shocked the Penrith community, Jordan Goddard, aged 23, has been sentenced to prison following a series of disturbing discoveries made by law enforcement officials. The incident highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding online exploitation and the dangers posed by individuals with a sexual interest in minors.

Goddard, who was already subject to a strict sexual harm prevention order due to previous offenses involving indecent images of children, was found to have been secretly accessing and viewing illicit material on a laptop. This device was concealed down the side of his bed at his supported living accommodation in Penrith. The police investigation revealed that Goddard had been engaging in online communication with a person claiming to be a 14-year-old girl. During these exchanges, he falsely claimed to be 16 and engaged in sexualized conversations, including offers of money in exchange for a dance, which raised serious concerns about his intentions and behavior.

The authorities were alerted on January 9 when staff members at the supported living facility reported that Goddard had made inappropriate and sexualized comments about young girls he had seen on the street near his residence. Although Goddard initially dismissed these remarks as a joke and denied making the comments in question, police investigations uncovered evidence to the contrary. The officers found the hidden laptop and also discovered that Goddard had been attempting to erase his internet search history, an act that is explicitly prohibited under the terms of his existing sexual harm prevention order.

Further examination of the device and storage media revealed that Goddard had downloaded and stored a small number of child abuse images, categorized as Category A, B, and C, with Category A being the most severe. These images were stored on an SD memory card located next to his bed, indicating a disturbing pattern of behavior. The police also found that Goddard had been attempting to conceal his online activities by deleting evidence of his searches and viewing habits.

During the court proceedings, prosecutor Brendan Burke outlined the details of the case to Carlisle Crown Court. He emphasized that the evidence demonstrated a clear and persistent sexual interest in minors, coupled with attempts to communicate and exploit a 14-year-old girl online. Goddard admitted to downloading the illicit images and attempting to engage in sexual communication with the minor, as well as breaching the sexual harm prevention order on two separate occasions in August of the previous year.

In sentencing, the judge imposed a custodial term of 14 months and ordered that Goddard be placed on the Sex Offender Register for ten years. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior in communities like Penrith.