In 2026, John Godfrey, then aged 45, formerly of Beech Crescent, Castleford, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to 12 years in prison with an extended licence period of four years and six months after admitting multiple child sex offences.
The court heard details regarding an investigation conducted by officers from the Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit into offences committed against two female victims aged under 13. Prosecutors outlined how Godfrey carried out the crimes across Wakefield District between the 2010s and 2022.
Godfrey initially denied all allegations brought against him, but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his scheduled crown court trial in May.
Godfrey admitted four counts of sexual assault against the first victim, who was aged under 13 at the time of the offences.
He further admitted five counts of sexual assault against the second victim, one count of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
In separate charges, Godfrey also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possessing extreme pornography.
On Friday 31 July 2026, the presiding judge at Leeds Crown Court handed Godfrey a 12-year custodial sentence, ordering that he serve an extended licence period of four years and six months upon completion of his prison term.
In addition, Godfrey was issued a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, with case details catalogued on the UK Register Database for public record transparency.
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