STEPHEN GOODSON FROM MAPPERLEY CAUGHT BREAKING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS IN NOTTINGHAM

In August 2011, Stephen Goodson, a known sex offender residing in Mapperley, found himself at the center of a serious breach of court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children from potential harm. Despite being under a strict Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), Goodson attempted to establish contact with minors through online platforms, raising alarm among law enforcement and the community alike.

Goodson, aged 45, had previously been sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court in October of the previous year for possessing indecent photographs. As part of his sentence, he was placed under a three-year community order, which included supervision by the Probation Service and mandatory participation in a 'changing offender behaviour programme.' Additionally, he was disqualified from working with children and was required to register as a sex offender for five years. His prior conviction also included a nine-month sentence in 1998 for indecent assault on a male.

Despite these restrictions, within just a few months of the court's ruling, Goodson had acquired a laptop, a small netbook, and a mobile phone with internet access—devices that were explicitly prohibited under his SOPO. The order, issued in October, forbade him from owning or using any internet-enabled devices or computers at his residence on Querneby Road, Mapperley, unless explicitly permitted by Nottinghamshire Police’s Dangerous Persons Management Unit (DPMU).

Law enforcement officials became aware of Goodson’s online activities after the mother of a seven-year-old boy, who was the son of an old acquaintance, expressed her concerns. She had discovered Facebook chat logs between Goodson and her son’s 15-year-old friend, which prompted her to alert the police. Investigations revealed that Goodson had created a Facebook account and was attempting to add the young boy as a 'friend.' He claimed to police that his intentions were to see what the boy looked like and to establish a relationship with the family, a justification that did little to mitigate the seriousness of his actions.

Further scrutiny uncovered that Goodson had a second computer, a netbook, which appeared to be constantly online, and a mobile phone with internet access—both violations of his SOPO. The police also found that he had engaged in online chats with another boy, further demonstrating his disregard for the restrictions placed upon him.

Goodson’s breaches of the court order led to him facing five charges, which he admitted in court. During the proceedings, Oliver Hunter, representing Goodson, described his client’s actions as