RHYS GOODWIN: AYLESBURY, IPSWICH, NORWICH PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND REPEATED OFFENCES

In a case that has spanned several years and multiple locations, Rhys Goodwin, a man with a disturbing history of child exploitation, has been sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in possessing and distributing indecent images of children. The court also imposed an extended three-year license period following his release, reflecting the serious concern about his potential to reoffend.

Goodwin, aged 32 and formerly residing in Ipswich, was found to have downloaded over 4,000 vile images and videos depicting children on his mobile devices. The Ipswich Crown Court heard that his actions were part of a pattern of escalating offending, with authorities describing his behavior as 'out of control.' Judge David Goodin emphasized that Goodwin posed a 'high risk' of committing further sexual offences, including contact offences involving children.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Goodwin had admitted to having a sexual fantasy involving the rape and murder of a child, a chilling detail that underscored the severity of his case. The court heard that Goodwin had previously been subject to a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) issued by Norwich Crown Court in 2008, after he was jailed for sexually assaulting a young boy. Despite this, he breached the order multiple times, including by downloading child pornography on mobile phones purchased from shops, including one in Ipswich, which he returned within 48 hours for a refund. This method allowed him to swap phones quickly and avoid detection.

In September 2012, authorities uncovered the extent of his offending when indecent images were discovered on a phone that had been previously owned and returned to a shop, as well as on another device used by Goodwin. The investigation revealed that among the 4,552 images and videos found, nearly 1,000 were classified at the most serious levels of child pornography grading. Evidence also suggested that Goodwin had shared some of these images with others who shared his disturbing interests.

Goodwin’s criminal history includes appearances before Norwich Crown Court in 2008, 2011, and 2012, with charges ranging from making and possessing indecent images of children to breaching his SOPO. In 2005, he was also convicted of making indecent images of children and possessing child pornography, with police finding over 3,260 images on his devices at that time. His pattern of offending demonstrates a persistent and escalating problem, despite previous convictions and orders.

Legal representatives for Goodwin, including Imran Mahmood, argued that his client had suffered from childhood abuse, depression, and low self-esteem, which contributed to his obsession with child pornography. Mahmood also stated that although Goodwin had fantasized about the rape and murder of a child, there was no real risk of these acts occurring. Nonetheless, the court took a stern view of his repeated violations and the serious nature of his crimes.

In a related case from November 2013, Goodwin, then living in Aylesbury, admitted to a fourth set of child abuse image offences within an eight-year span. He pleaded guilty to four charges involving indecent images of children, as well as breaching his SOPO. The offences included making indecent images in Ipswich and Aylesbury, and sharing such images online. Goodwin had been caught with a mobile phone capable of internet access on three separate occasions, breaching the restrictions imposed by his SOPO.

He was remanded on bail until his sentencing, scheduled to occur in December 2013. His prior convictions include a 13-month prison sentence in May 2011 for possessing 20 child abuse images and breaching his SOPO, which was initially imposed after his 2008 conviction. Before that, he served a 15-month sentence in 2005 for possessing child pornography. His history reveals a pattern of persistent offending despite previous interventions and orders aimed at curbing his behavior.

Throughout his criminal career, Goodwin has demonstrated a troubling inability to control his impulses, with authorities and courts recognizing the high risk he poses to children and society at large. His case underscores the importance of vigilant monitoring and strict sentencing for individuals with a history of child exploitation, especially those who continue to breach legal restrictions and engage in illegal activities involving minors.