In January 2018, the Offender Database reported that Richard Codd, then 32, of The Crescent West, Sunnyside, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court for the possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography. Codd was the director of Team Katalyst, a youth organisation providing dance and free-running activities to thousands of young people across South Yorkshire, including facilities in Rotherham and Barnsley.
The court heard that Codd was arrested in February 2017 following intelligence suggesting he was accessing illegal material online. A forensic examination of his laptop and mobile phone uncovered a range of indecent images. Upon his arrest, a safeguarding plan was immediately implemented by South Yorkshire Police in coordination with Rotherham Borough Council’s Children and Young People’s Service. Codd was subsequently removed from his position at Team Katalyst and placed on strict bail conditions prohibiting any unsupervised contact with minors.
Codd pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography. Investigating officer Det Con Darren Walker described the offences as “despicable” and emphasised that protecting vulnerable members of society remains the force’s highest priority. Despite the nature of the material, Codd avoided immediate imprisonment at his sentencing hearing.
Richard Codd was sentenced to a 36-month community order and ordered to attend mandatory rehabilitation training. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which legally restricts his use of the internet and his ability to work in proximity to children.
As a result of his conviction for possessing child abuse material while in a position of trust, Codd has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He is managed under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and is monitored by South Yorkshire Police’s Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) team. This specialised unit ensures he remains under permanent surveillance and faces immediate arrest and potential imprisonment should he breach any of his registration or SHPO requirements.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.