KEVIN GOODMAN SENTENCED IN LEIGHTON BUZZARD AND GOSPORT FOR CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE OFFENSES

In a significant case that spans multiple locations, Kevin Goodman, a 61-year-old man originally from Leighton Buzzard, has been convicted of possessing a large collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after authorities uncovered his activities during an investigation that began in 2018.

At the time of his arrest, Goodman was residing in a mobile home situated on Commercial Way in Leighton Buzzard. Bedfordshire police, during their inquiry, examined his electronic devices and discovered that he had downloaded approximately 1,600 indecent images of children. These images were categorized across all three levels of severity, indicating a disturbing pattern of material. Additionally, authorities found that Goodman had accessed extreme pornography, which included content involving animals, and some of these files had been shared via eMule, a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.

The investigation took a further turn when Goodman, who had been living on a barge near Portsmouth in Gosport, was arrested in May 2022. The arrest was prompted by his failure to attend his scheduled trial, which raised concerns about his compliance with legal proceedings. During the court hearing, Goodman pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including making and downloading indecent images of children, distributing such images, and possessing extreme pornography. He also admitted to failing to appear in court in 2020, which compounded his legal issues.

In a sentencing hearing held at Luton Crown Court, the judge imposed a 22-month prison sentence, but this was suspended for a period of 24 months. As part of his sentence, Goodman is required to participate in the Horizon sex offender programme and complete 20 days of rehabilitation. Furthermore, he is ordered to pay costs amounting to £1200, payable at a rate of £50 per month. The court also mandated that Goodman adhere to a sexual harm prevention order and register as a sex offender for the next ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk to the community.