Conviction of Gilbert Goddard

01/12/2006

Gilbert Goddard has today been found guilty at Derby Crown Court of rape and sexual assault. This follows guilty verdicts yesterday on one charge of sexual activity with a child, and a further charge of sexual assault.

Speaking after the jury returned their verdict Anna Zimand, Head of the Trials Unit at Derbyshire CPS said: "Today brings a satisfactory conclusion to what has been a long and difficult prosecution, and an extremely upsetting ordeal for these young girls.

"Goddard is a very dangerous sexual predatory paedophile.  He deliberately selected his victims on the basis they were emotionally vulnerable and fragile, and had no immediate supporting family ties.  He then set about securing their trust by complimenting them and creating an environment within his home in Normanton that many teenagers would find irresistible - the provision of films, television, alcohol, tobacco, and the absence of rules and discipline generally.

"Key to our prosecution case was a number of highly explicit text messages and letters that Goddard had written to his victims.  We're delighted that despite his attempts to deny responsibility for his actions, in the end the evidence against him proved otherwise.

"These offences were only brought to justice through the bravery of the witnesses willing to come forward and give evidence in quite difficult circumstances.  We would like to take this opportunity to commend their courage in supporting the prosecution.  Without their resolve Goddard may well have continued to pursue his sexual fantasies and remained a very real danger to teenage girls."