DEAN GOODWIN AND HIS REIGN OF TERROR IN POOLE

In a disturbing chain of events that highlights the ongoing threat posed by serial sex attacker Dean Goodwin, the impact of his actions continues to ripple through the lives of his victims in Poole. Just weeks before his most recent criminal act, Goodwin attempted to contact one of his previous victims via Facebook, a woman who was only 13 years old when he sexually molested her. This attempt to reconnect was brought to light through an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo.

The woman, now aged 25, revealed that after Goodwin tried to add her as a Facebook friend, she promptly reported the incident to police. Authorities responded swiftly, and he was arrested. However, because she had deleted the message from her phone, police released him on bail without charging him further. Had the message not been deleted, he could have faced a potential prison sentence of up to two years for these actions. The woman expressed shock and fear at the fact that only a month later, Goodwin was again on the run, having committed a brutal early morning rape in Poole.

This woman’s traumatic past took her from her home in Poole to safer accommodations in Bournemouth, a move she admits was driven by her fear that Goodwin would attempt to find her again. She described her ongoing anxiety, stating, "It's always been my worst fear. We were uprooted before when Goodwin was released from prison and came to live in the same area. We're still too close and need to be moved out of the county; for the sake of my three young children." Currently, she and her children are confined to a single room, unable to venture outside due to her fears.

Recalling the horrifying incident from May 3, 2000, in Parkstone, she recounted how Goodwin suddenly approached her, grabbed her, and covered her mouth to silence her screams. Despite never having seen him before that day, she said he threatened to harm her severely if she screamed again. Her sister’s passing by prevented what could have been an even worse tragedy, and she credits that intervention with saving her life. Since that traumatic event, she has struggled with severe anxiety, trust issues, and the need for intensive counseling. Her primary concern remains her children’s safety, to the extent that she refuses to let her five-year-old play outside, even in the garden, understanding how the shadow of Goodwin’s actions continues to loom over her family.

The woman emphasized that Goodwin’s actions have not only caused her suffering but have also perpetuated a climate of fear in the community. Her words underscored how dangerous and unpredictable he remains, noting her lack of surprise upon hearing he was being hunted again for his latest crimes. Goodwin’s presence in Poole continues to cast a long shadow, and his victims live in constant fear of his reappearance, demonstrating the enduring trauma inflicted by a man described as extremely dangerous.