Donald Godfrey, then aged 39, of Fosse Way, Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire, has received a suspended prison sentence at Gloucester Crown Court after admitting to possessing dozens of indecent images and films of children, as well as extreme pornography involving animals.
The prosecution arose after Gloucestershire Constabulary received intelligence on 18 March indicating that an account operating from Godfrey’s residential address was actively uploading indecent images on the mobile messaging application Kik.
Following the intelligence report, police officers executed inquiries and seized two personal digital devices from Godfrey, consisting of an iPhone and an iPad.
Forensic examination of the hardware established that both devices were synchronised with an online cloud storage account from which investigators recovered the illicit material.
Prosecuting barrister Ehsanul Oarith informed the court that the seized child abuse material comprised 70 images and videos depicting victims aged between six and 16 years old.
Mr Oarith noted that in addition to still photographs, the collection contained a cumulative 39 minutes of video footage.
The digital extraction also located 19 illicit extreme pornography images depicting sexual acts with animals.
Appearing before Gloucester Crown Court, Godfrey entered formal guilty pleas to:
- Possessing indecent images and videos of children
- Possessing extreme pornography images depicting acts with animals
During sentencing remarks, Recorder James Waddington QC noted the mitigating factors present, addressing Godfrey directly: “I give you full credit for owning up at the second police interview and pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity. I can also afford you a little bit more credit, although not a great deal, for your good character apart from your excess alcohol conviction.”
Recorder Waddington sentenced Godfrey to seven months’ imprisonment, suspended for an operational period of two years.
As direct conditions of the suspended sentence order, Godfrey was instructed to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community, complete up to 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days under probation supervision, and pay £425 towards prosecution costs.
In addition to the suspended custodial term, the court granted an application for a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), imposing statutory monitoring and enforceable restrictions on Godfrey’s access to digital devices and online services.
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