ASHLEY GODBER SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN SHEFFIELD AND SOUTH ANSTON

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Sheffield and South Anston, a man named Ashley Godber has been handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted of heinous crimes involving the abuse of two children under the age of 10. The sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court, where Judge David Dixon described the offences as both deeply disturbing and morally reprehensible.

According to the court proceedings, the criminal activities of Godber, who is currently residing on Woodland Drive in South Anston, came to light in September of the previous year. Police were called to a property in the Deepcar area of Sheffield following intelligence reports indicating that Godber, aged 26 at the time, was in possession of indecent images of children. The investigation revealed that he had been involved in a series of sexual offences spanning several years.

Prosecutor Gurdial Singh outlined the details of the case, explaining that during police questioning, Godber admitted to having a personality disorder and confessed to possessing indecent images on a mobile phone, which he claimed he had since discarded. More disturbingly, he also admitted to abusing a nine-year-old girl. The court heard that Godber had shown the young girl pornography when she was just seven years old, allegedly in an attempt to encourage her to imitate what she had seen. This grooming behavior was part of a pattern of sexual abuse, which included multiple assaults on the girl.

Furthermore, Godber confessed to abusing a boy, estimated to be between eight and nine years old. The court was told that he engaged in sexual acts in front of the boy, performed acts on himself while the child watched, and used manipulative language such as, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” referring to his genitals. Judge Dixon emphasized that, similar to the abuse of the girl, these acts were part of a grooming process aimed at encouraging the boy to participate in sexual activity with him.

The offences committed by Godber spanned from December 2010 to September 2016, covering a period of nearly six years. The court also heard impact statements from the victims’ families, illustrating the profound and lasting effects of the abuse. The family of the girl described how she had fundamentally changed since the incidents, noting that she had stopped wearing dresses and refused to be the same “girly girl” she once was. The family of the boy expressed concern over his altered behavior, stating that he was no longer the outgoing child he used to be and now disliked being alone or around unfamiliar people.

Judge Dixon did not hold back in condemning Godber’s actions, describing them as “despicable and disgraceful.” He acknowledged that the convicted man would face the consequences of his actions, including the loss of his liberty and his current accommodation. Ultimately, the judge concluded that the severity of the offences warranted a “significant” custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed against the vulnerable children.