EDGWARE OPTICIAN ERIC GODFREY STRUCK OFF AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In February 2004, a disturbing case emerged involving Eric Robert Godfrey, a 59-year-old optician based in Edgware, who was found to possess a large collection of child pornography on his personal computer. The revelation came after police investigations uncovered hundreds of illicit images, leading to serious legal and professional consequences for Godfrey.

Initially, Godfrey claimed to authorities that his online activity was solely related to seeking adult pornography. However, this explanation was quickly undermined when investigators discovered a revealing letter he had written to his internet service provider. In the letter, Godfrey explicitly expressed his desire for explicit material involving minors, stating: “I’ve seen more naked boys at the swimming pool than I see in your site. Come on, give us some porn.” This candid admission cast serious doubt on his initial claims and indicated a troubling interest in child exploitation.

Godfrey’s professional life was also affected by these revelations. He practiced as an optician at the premises of Eric R Godfrey Ltd, located on Hale Lane in Edgware. His case was brought before Harrow Crown Court, where he faced eight charges of making indecent photographs of children. On July 28, the court convicted him of these charges after evidence was presented showing that a total of 534 indecent images of boys and girls had been found on his computer. The images ranged from naked or semi-naked children to some that included adults, highlighting the disturbing nature of his collection.

Following his conviction, Godfrey was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order, ordered to pay £600 in costs, and required to register as a sex offender for a period of five years. These measures aimed to monitor and restrict his activities in the community, reflecting the severity of his offenses.

Despite the criminal proceedings, the professional regulatory body, the General Optical Council, took further action. On the Friday following his conviction, the council’s disciplinary committee formally struck Godfrey off the register, effectively banning him from practicing as an optician. Although Godfrey did not attend the hearing in person, he submitted a written statement in which he expressed remorse and described himself as a man of previously good character. He claimed that his interest in the website was driven by “naive curiosity” and emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest he had attempted to distribute the images.

However, the committee’s chair, Heather Wilcox, made it clear that such behavior was unacceptable, especially given his status on the sex offenders’ register. She stated, “We do not feel it right that a person on the sex offenders’ register should be treating patients, including young children,” underscoring the serious implications of his actions for his professional standing and public safety.