ASHINGTON PREDATOR LEE GOLDSWORTHY SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF VULNERABLE GIRLS

In August 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Lee Goldsworthy, a man from Alexandra Road, Ashington, who was convicted of heinous crimes including multiple rapes and sexual assaults spanning over a decade. The court proceedings revealed the extent of his predatory behavior, which targeted girls with learning difficulties and vulnerable children, causing immense trauma and suffering.

Goldsworthy appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via videolink from Durham Prison on Friday, August 30. The court sentenced him to a lengthy term of 22 years behind bars for his involvement in four separate rapes and three sexual assaults. The gravity of his crimes was underscored by the court, which heard how he deliberately chose victims based on their age and vulnerability, exploiting their trust and circumstances for his own depraved purposes.

Prosecutor Christopher Rose detailed how Goldsworthy manipulated his victims, often gaining their trust before subjecting them to devastating sexual violence. His offending spanned from 2006 to 2017, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that left many victims in despair, some resorting to self-harm or attempting suicide as a result of their trauma. The court heard that Goldsworthy’s tactics included luring a vulnerable woman back to his flat, where he kept a knife and condom on the bedside table, indicating premeditation and intent.

One particularly disturbing incident involved Goldsworthy, who was working as a bartender at the time, accompanying an extremely intoxicated woman to her home. After waiting for her sister to go to bed, he proceeded to rape her within her own residence. His youngest victim was only 12 years old, and her assault took place in a hospital corridor near her family, who were waiting nearby. Goldsworthy convinced her to give him her phone number under false pretenses, claiming he would buy her cigarettes, and then persistently texted her until she left her relative’s bedside to meet him.

The court also heard that Goldsworthy assaulted a teenage girl after intoxicating her 16-year-old boyfriend with alcohol until he passed out, further demonstrating his pattern of exploiting vulnerable individuals. The investigation into his crimes began in 2017 when Detective Constable Mandy Todd of Northumbria Police’s safeguarding department received an allegation of sexual assault. Her diligent work helped piece together a profile of Goldsworthy’s offending behavior.

During the sentencing, a victim impact statement was read aloud, revealing the profound effect Goldsworthy’s actions had on one girl. She described herself as once being outgoing and enjoying social activities, but after the assault, her confidence was shattered, and she became fearful of her own shadow. Her words underscored the lasting damage inflicted by Goldsworthy’s predatory acts.

As Judge Penny Moreland delivered the sentence, Goldsworthy was visibly emotional, crying as he was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The judge emphasized the seriousness of his crimes, stating, “You took advantage of the opportunity to commit rape or sexual assault. You are a dangerous offender posing a significant risk of serious harm to other women.” The court’s verdict reflects the severity of his offenses and the ongoing threat he poses to the community in Ashington and beyond.