JORDAN GODDARD

CUMBRIAN SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR BREACHING COURT ORDER USING MILITARY-GRADE ENCRYPTION APP

A REGISTERED Eden Valley sex offender illegally used a private messenger application designed with “military grade encryption” as he breached a tough court order.Jordan Goddard, 24, who has previously lived at Tebay and Penrith, first appeared at Carlisle Crown Court in 2022.

Goddard was sentenced by a judge that year for downloading scores of images showing the sexual abuse of children from the internet.

Police learned of his crimes from another law enforcement agency.

Having admitted making a total of 165 illegal still and moving images of youngsters, Goddard, previously of Castlegate, Penrith, was made the subject of a lengthy community order.He was also told to comply both with the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) governing his online use; and sex offender notification requirements, to keep police up to date with his personal details.

But Goddard has since been brought back to court for flouting the terms of both the SHPO and notification requirements.

In May, 2023, Goddard was jailed after police discovered he had secretly used a laptop to look at indecent child images.

And at the crown court on Monday (January 6), he was handed an immediate two-year prison sentence for another SHPO breach.Prosecutor Emily Land said police learned that Goddard had used a mobile phone to make a video call using a private messenger application.

This occurred at 2-28am on November 21.

“The use of that app had not been authorised by a police offender manager,” said Ms Land.

Therefore, Goddard was in breach of one SHPO condition.

When arrested, Goddard admitted downloading the app and made contact with an old school friend.

“He was aware he was not allowed to have this application, (and said) his head was ‘all over the spot’,” added the prosecutor.Goddard, said Miss Weir, was still a relatively young man who had grief issues following the death of his father to cancer while he was aged just nine.

“He has struggled to come to terms with that,” she told the court.

Goddard had been remanded in custody since November.

“He has missed another Christmas with friends and family,” said Miss Weir of an “isolated” defendant.

“He has to accept if he continues to breach the order, the sentences will get longer.

That is something, at a young age, he needs to get to grips with.”Goddard was jailed by Judge Michael Fanning, who noted with concern that the private messenger app in question was designed with “military grade encryption”.

Those behind it permitted users to register without the use of personal information, meaning key information could not be shared with law enforcement agencies.

“Fortunately it has been picked up by the police,” said Judge Fanning, who told Goddard he was duty-bound to consider whether the two-year jail term could be suspended.

“I won’t,” he concluded.

“There is no prospect of rehabilitation at this stage in your case.” Goddard was reminded the 10-year SHPO would continue to run.