SAMUEL WILDGOOSE FROM BUXTON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING A TEENAGE GIRL IN DERBY

In September 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Samuel Wildgoose, a 22-year-old resident of Victoria Avenue in Buxton, who was convicted of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl. The incident came to light after Wildgoose initiated contact with the young girl through Facebook, where he sent her a message expressing his attraction towards her. This initial communication marked the beginning of a troubling and inappropriate relationship that would later be revealed to include the sharing of indecent photographs and other exploitative behaviors.

According to court proceedings, Wildgoose's messages to the girl indicated a clear sexual interest, which led to a series of interactions that crossed legal boundaries. The relationship escalated to the point where Wildgoose and the girl were found together in bed, an incident that was discovered by a relative of the girl and subsequently reported to the authorities. The police responded swiftly, leading to Wildgoose's arrest.

During police interviews, Wildgoose admitted to a history of substance abuse, including misuse of cocaine, MCAT, and cannabis. He also confessed to being sexually attracted to very young girls, specifically those aged between eight and ten. Wildgoose further disclosed that he had provided alcohol to the girl and her friend, actions that compounded the severity of his misconduct. He pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of a child, which he had kept on his mobile phone.

In mitigation, defense lawyer Sonal Ahya explained that Wildgoose was experiencing a period of profound personal turmoil, which led him to abuse drugs and alcohol. She stated, “He felt tremendously lost in his life and started to abuse a cocktail of drugs. His life began to spiral out of control and the illicit drugs and alcohol, no doubt, amplified the insecurities he had. He and his family are nothing short of devastated.”

Judge John Burgess addressed the court, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable minors. He remarked, “Thirteen-year-old girls need protection from themselves sometimes and, when somebody like you comes along and disregards their age or approaches them because of their young age, everyone needs to know the courts take it very seriously.”

He detailed how Wildgoose had groomed the girl via Facebook, provided her with alcohol, and engaged in a sexual relationship with her. The judge also highlighted the serious harm caused by Wildgoose’s actions, including the taking and keeping of indecent photographs of the girl on his phone. The court sentenced Wildgoose to four years in prison, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the need for justice in cases involving exploitation of minors.