He sexually abused a girl hundreds of times and
tried to buy her silence with cash
A vile sex offender sexually assaulted a young girl on hundreds of occasions and tried to buy her silence with cash. Terry Godwin's horrific crimes remained a dark secret for years.
His victim has been left with a "horrible shadow" lingering over her "for as long as she can remember" as a result of the countless assaults. Decades later, her abuser has finally been brought to justice.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, August 20, that the complainant came forward during 2022 and detailed to Merseyside Police how she "spent her life pretending that the abuse didn't happen". David Polglase, prosecuting, described how she was aged as young as seven when the assaults began and continued until she was a teenager.
Godwin meanwhile was aged between 12 and 19 and was said to have sexually abused her more than 250 times. The now 39-year-old, of Corwen Close in Moreton, Wirral, assaulted her while masturbating and instructed her to perform sexual acts on him before "giving her money to keep quiet".
In a statement read to the court on her behalf, the victim said: "For as long as I can remember, I have had this horrible, dark shadow over my life. It has affected me in ways it is hard to begin to explain.
"The shame I felt, I still feel. I have led an extremely lonely life and I have never truly known happiness. I have considered whether it would be easier not to be here.
"The trauma has stolen my childhood and a lot of my adult life. From five years old, this was all that I knew - pain and misery at the hands of Terry Godwin. He has ingrained feelings inside me that make me feel like I don't deserve to be loved. Happiness is an emotion that only other people feel.
"I believe this man to be a danger to young girls. I am already thinking about the time when he walks the streets again and I am worried what he might be capable of."
Rebecca Smith, defending, told the court: "It is quite clear that he has always offered an apology. It may not be worth much, but he has always reflected and indicated not only an apology for his behaviour but also how he is disgusted with the offences he committed.
"The defendant has had to have a number of biopsies and has had to have surgery, and he has had a diagnosis of a rare swallowing condition called achalasia. It is something he will have to deal with, and it might be somewhat more difficult to deal with when he is incarcerated."
Godwin, who has no previous convictions, admitted a total of 42 child sex offences including indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for seven years - of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release - and handed an additional year on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "There has been read to me a particularly moving victim personal statement in which your victim has described how what you did has cast a horrible, dark shadow over the entirety of her life. She continues to live with what she describes as the mental torture of what you did to her. These feelings are with her every day of her life.
"I am satisfied that your victim has suffered severe psychological harm. You gave her money in an attempt to persuade her not to tell anyone what you were doing.I take into account your subsequent lack of offending. You have reached the age of 39 without committing any further offences. I take into account your ill health."
Godwin was also handed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for life. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Indianapolis man sentenced to 44 years in prison for
sexually exploiting 11-year-old over Snapchat
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man was sentenced to 44 years in prison after sexually exploiting an 11-year-old on Snapchat.
Sonny Applegate, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of committing a felony offense while required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, Applegate was convicted for possession of child pornography in Marion County on Dec. 17, 2020 and sentenced to 4 years in prison with nearly the entire sentence suspended to probation.
The DOJ said Applegate was on probation because of that conviction. Despite being on probation, he reoffended.
Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 12, 2022, officials said Applegate used Snapchat to communicate with an 11-year-old child living in Missouri that he knew was underage.
The DOJ said Applegate engaged in "graphically explicit sexual chat" with the child through Snapchat. He also regularly "demanded" that they exchange images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct that he directed.
During a routine probation visit on Sept. 12, 2022, officials said Applegate's probation officer discovered that he had a Samsung Galaxy cell phone hidden under a pillow. Investigators found more than 600 images or videos of child sex abuse material involving other children that he had gotten from the Internet.
Applegate has to pay $10,000 in restitution. He is also required to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school.
“Every family should know that social media apps like Snapchat are not safe spaces for young children and are often hunting grounds for predators who seek gratification from their exploitation,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
"This sentence reflects the profound harm the defendant caused the victim and should serve as a warning that those who exploit children will be held accountable,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, FBI Indianapolis special agent in charge. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue our unwavering commitment to ensure we protect vulnerable children from such heinous crimes.”
‘Operation Tidal Wave’ leads to 9 arrests for
child sex crimes in Georgetown County
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Nine men who authorities say were seeking to exploit and sexually abuse children through the internet were arrested in a large-scale monthlong investigation, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.
“Operation Tidal Wave” was a joint effort between the agency and the South Carolina Attorney General Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It began with a “sting” operation in late February, Sheriff Carter Weaver said.
Those facing charges are:
Thomas Jarrod Hood, 32, of Myrtle Beach, distribution of methamphetamine solicitation of a minor criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt; victim aged 11 to 14 years; dissemination of obscene material to a person under 18 years of age
- Nicardo Melbourne Vassell, 35, of Myrtle Beach, failure to stop for blue light (attempted to flee); solicitation of a minor; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Kevin John Richmond, 51, of Myrtle Beach, solicitation of a minor; sexual exploitation of a minor 1st degree; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years; dissemination of harmful material to minors
- Jason Alexander Morgan, 25, of Calabash, North Carolina, solicitation of a minor; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Mark E. Tilghman, 62, Surfside Beach, solicitation of a minor; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Nicholas James Russo, 31, of Myrtle Beach, solicitation of a minor; attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Robert Edward Calloway, 48, of Myrtle Beach, solicitation of a minor; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
- Julio Francisco Gomez Sauzo Apellidos, 31, foreign national, solicitation of a minor; criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim under 16 years of age
- Weunder Inai Segura Lopez, 34, North Myrtle Beach, solicitation of a minor, criminal sexual contact with a minor or attempt, victim aged 11 to 14 years
In a statement, Sheriff Carter Weaver thanked all of the agencies who brought their experience and resources to the joint effort.
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