JO GOODWIN FROM PENWORTHAM JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING 12-YEAR-OLD ONLINE IN PRESTON

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming, Jo Goodwin, a university student from Penwortham, Preston, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for attempting to engage a 12-year-old girl in sexual acts through online communication. The incident came to light when authorities uncovered that the young girl, known by the pseudonym 'Kate,' was actually an undercover police officer conducting an operation to catch predators preying on minors on the internet.

The investigation was initiated after the officer posted a message on the Kick friend finder platform, a site often used for social and dating purposes. Within just fifty minutes of the post, a user operating under the alias “Mr Humperdinckle” responded. This profile was accompanied by a provocative profile picture depicting explicit content, which was used to lure potential victims. The individual behind the profile was later identified as Jo Goodwin, who was 19 years old at the time and studying at Lancaster University.

During the online exchange, Goodwin, who initially claimed his name was “Dom,” inadvertently disclosed his real identity, along with his mobile and landline numbers. As the conversation progressed, he encouraged the fictitious young girl to perform lewd acts over Skype, attempting to persuade her to lie to her mother about her whereabouts, such as claiming she was going swimming. He also urged her to send explicit images and videos of herself, while he sent explicit videos and images of himself performing sexual acts.

Goodwin’s behavior was characterized by panic and distress during the court proceedings at Preston Crown Court. At one point, he interrupted the proceedings as explicit details of the case were being read aloud in the public gallery, which included relatives of the victim. The prosecutor, Joe Allman, detailed the gravity of the case, stating, “During the conversation, the officer told Mr Goodwin she was 12. He replied: ‘That’s OK, age doesn’t matter.’”

Further evidence revealed that Goodwin made several attempts to meet the girl in person, and he was explicitly trying to incite her to engage in sexual activity. He also tried to persuade her to lie to her mother about her plans, and he sent explicit images and videos of himself. The police investigation confirmed that Goodwin’s actions constituted multiple serious offenses, including attempting to facilitate a sexual act involving a minor, inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

As a result of his convictions, Goodwin has been ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the severity of his crimes. The case underscores the ongoing risks posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation on digital platforms.