PAUL GOLDIE FROM WARMINSTER JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON ARMY CADET IN DANGEROUS INCIDENT

In September 2015, a disturbing incident involving Paul Goldie, a resident of Warminster, resulted in his being sentenced to prison for a serious sexual offence. Goldie, aged 44, was driving along the A350 between Westbury and Warminster when he encountered a young female Army cadet walking along the carriageway. The cadet, who had traveled from Scotland, was seeking a lift and was initially hopeful when Goldie offered to take her to the Travelodge at the nearby A36 roundabout, where she had a pre-booked room.

As the vehicle approached the junction, the young woman realized they had missed the turn to the hotel. She attempted to call for help by retrieving her phone, but Goldie swiftly snatched it from her hand and placed it into the driver’s door pocket, effectively preventing her from contacting anyone. It was at this point that Goldie, in a calm but sinister manner, told her he intended to take her to a lay-by where she would be forced to remove her clothing and perform a sex act in front of him.

The cadet, understandably distressed, shouted 'no' and questioned Goldie’s intentions. After about five minutes of persuasion, Goldie offered to drop her off at the hotel if she handed over her underwear. She refused initially, but to retrieve her phone, she agreed to give him some underwear from her bag. Goldie, however, insisted that she must wear the underwear first, and once she complied, he demanded she put it down her trousers before accepting it.

During this ordeal, Goldie expressed remorse, claiming that his wife had left him and that he had never behaved like this before. He then drove away, leaving the young woman to continue her journey to the hotel. Before she entered the premises, she noticed police officers nearby in a vehicle. She reported the incident to them, but the officers appeared to have taken the report lightly at the time.

Subsequently, police officers visited Goldie’s residence in Maddocks Hill, Warminster, and issued warnings about picking up hitchhikers. It was only after the young woman returned home and provided a more detailed account to police in Scotland that Goldie was arrested. He was charged with attempting to cause a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and pleaded guilty to the offence.

It was revealed during the court proceedings that Goldie had previously served a 13-month sentence in July 2012 for another sexual assault. The case was heard at Swindon Crown Court, where Recorder Rosie Collins sentenced him to two years in prison. The judge emphasized the frightening nature of the incident, noting that the young cadet was effectively trapped in the vehicle without her phone, which could have left her terrified. She highlighted that Goldie posed a significant risk of harm to lone females and the public at large.

As part of his sentence, Goldie will serve two-thirds of the term before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he will be subject to a four-year extended licence period and is required to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his actions and the ongoing risk he poses to society.