DEAN GOODWIN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN RINGWOOD AND DORSET LEAD TO LIFE SENTENCE

In a case that has shocked the communities of Ringwood, Bournemouth, and Poole, Dean Goodwin, a 32-year-old man with a long history of violent and sexual offenses, has been sentenced to serve nine life terms in prison. The sentencing follows a series of heinous crimes committed by Goodwin, including multiple rapes, false imprisonment, robbery, and attempted murder, which culminated in a brutal attack on a woman in her home in Poole.

Goodwin’s criminal history is extensive and troubling. His first known offense occurred when he was just 14 years old in 1994, involving a sexual assault on a five-year-old boy. Over the years, he continued to offend, including indecent assaults on women and children, burglaries, and thefts. His early release from prison in 2010, after serving ten years of a 12-year sentence, did not deter him from reoffending.

On November 23 of the previous year, Goodwin’s violent streak escalated dramatically. He broke into a woman’s flat in Poole, Dorset, and subjected her to a degrading five-hour ordeal. The victim, a woman approximately 4 feet 11 inches tall, was attacked by Goodwin, who was described as a burly man weighing around 18 stone. During the assault, he forced her to watch child pornography and raped her four times. Goodwin, who had pretended to be police officers to gain entry, made threatening statements such as, “I’m not leaving until I get what I want,” and, upon leaving, told her, “See you in court.”

His actions that day shocked the court and the community, prompting a massive manhunt. Goodwin, who was shaven-headed at the time, fled the scene and was later spotted running down Bournemouth Road in Poole. Armed police quickly responded, and after a brief chase, they managed to wrestle him to the ground and arrest him.

Following his arrest, Goodwin was found to be under the influence of cocaine and steroids. His criminal activities did not stop there. A few days later, he ambushed a complete stranger, Kerry Maylin, a 49-year-old mother of two, while she was returning home in Andover, Hampshire. He dragged her into the garden of a derelict house, where he raped her and beat her so severely that she lost consciousness. During the attack, he threatened her, saying, “Watch it or I will kill you,” and “scream and I will kill you.” He then repeatedly struck her with his fists and a brick, leaving her for dead.

Miss Maylin’s husband, concerned when she did not return home, found her several hours later in a hypothermic state. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was shown in court with her eyes closed due to the extent of her injuries. The assault caused permanent nerve damage, resulting in likely facial paralysis, and she described her life and that of her loved ones as being “destroyed” by the attack.

During police interviews, Goodwin admitted to attempting to kill Maylin and expressed remorse for his actions, stating he “wanted to go out with a bang” after the initial rape. His disturbing history also includes a previous attack on a 63-year-old woman in Wallisdown and an assault on a 13-year-old boy in Parkstone. His pattern of violence and sexual offenses led to multiple incarcerations, with his behavior and mental health evaluated as indicative of a dangerous personality disorder.

Judge Samuel Wiggs, presiding over the case at Bournemouth Crown Court, sentenced Goodwin to nine life sentences, with a minimum term of 15 years before eligibility for parole. The judge emphasized the danger Goodwin posed to society, stating, “You are very dangerous indeed. It may be that you want to stop yourself but it’s plain from all the evidence that you cannot.”

Detective Inspector Marcus Hester of Dorset Police commented on the case, highlighting the severity of Goodwin’s crimes and the threat he continues to pose. “Dean Goodwin was responsible for a number of heinous crimes, and his victims were understandably left terrified by his vile actions. I believe that Goodwin poses a significant risk to the public, and this result means he will spend a minimum term of 15 years in prison. He will then be assessed, and depending on whether it is safe to do so, he may be released or may spend the rest of his life behind bars. I am certain that Dorset will be safer with Goodwin behind bars.”

Goodwin’s criminal career has been marked by repeated cycles of release and reoffending. His early life was marred by violence and sexual misconduct, beginning with his first conviction at age 14. He was sentenced to 30 months at Portland Young Offender Institution for various offenses, including an indecent assault on a young boy. After serving 15 months, he was released in March 2000 but failed to return to supervision, leading to further attacks in Boscombe Gardens, Wallisdown, and Parkstone.

He was eventually caught hiding in a wardrobe at his grandmother’s house in Ringwood and sentenced to 10 years in prison in July 2000. Despite his lengthy incarceration, Goodwin continued to offend after his release, including a failed attempt to turn himself in at a hostel in the West Country in 2009. He was later arrested on the Isle of Wight after purchasing a train ticket in Bristol. His repeated offenses and failure to reform underscore the ongoing danger he presents to society, prompting the court to impose the harshest sentences available to protect the public from further harm.