THOMAS GOODYEAR: PENRYN PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT WITH CHILD RAPE MEMES AND IMAGES IN TRURO

In May 2022, Thomas Goodyear, a 24-year-old man originally from Penryn, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case involving the possession and creation of indecent images of children, as well as the circulation of disturbing memes that trivialized child abuse. The case was heard at Truro Crown Court, where Goodyear faced multiple charges related to his involvement with child exploitation material and drug possession.

According to the prosecution, Ed Bailey, the police had received a crucial tip-off from the National Crime Agency in January 2020. The tip indicated that a child abuse website had been accessed via the dark web from an address associated with Goodyear’s residence at the time. Acting swiftly, law enforcement officers executed a raid on the property, seizing several electronic devices for forensic examination.

During the investigation, authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of digital content. On the seized devices, they found 171 cartoons depicting child abuse, along with 25 images classified as Category A, which involved the rape of girls aged between 8 and 15. Additional images included 28 in Category B and 130 in Category C, all of which depicted various forms of child exploitation. The police also discovered links to videos showing child abuse, further evidencing Goodyear’s involvement in viewing such material. Alongside these images, officers found a series of memes that mocked and trivialized child abuse, which the court described as highly offensive and damaging.

In addition to the digital evidence, police recovered approximately 11 grams of cannabis from the premises. During his initial interview with authorities, Goodyear claimed that he had come across the images on the dark web out of curiosity and disgust, and that his intention was to identify those responsible for distributing the material rather than to view it himself. However, this account was contradicted when police examined his media player, which showed that he had indeed watched videos depicting child abuse, leaving his explanation unconvincing.

Judge Anna Richardson presided over the case and delivered her sentencing remarks, condemning the memes for their role in minimizing the severity of child abuse. She criticized Goodyear’s explanation to police, stating it demonstrated a lack of responsibility and awareness of the gravity of his actions. The judge acknowledged that Goodyear’s life had been marked by increasing isolation, especially following the death of his father, which appeared to have led him to become more immersed in online activities and detached from reality. Despite this, she noted that Goodyear had shown remorse and appeared to be honest and sincere, with no further offending in over two years.

As a result, Goodyear was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement and participate in the Horizons sex offenders’ treatment programme. Furthermore, he was placed under a five-year sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

In a related case, Thomas Goodyear appeared in court to admit possessing hundreds of indecent and prohibited images of children. This case, also heard at Truro Crown Court, involved five charges: three counts of making indecent images of children (covering each category), possession of prohibited images, and possession of cannabis. The evidence presented included 25 Category A images, two Category B images, 130 Category C images, and 171 prohibited images, along with approximately 10 grams of cannabis. Goodyear, who has since moved to Yorkshire, was described as softly spoken and well-dressed during the proceedings.

He was granted unconditional bail and will return to court in early May for sentencing, as the court has flagged several issues in his background that require a comprehensive pre-sentence report. As part of his legal obligations, he will now be subject to notification requirements following his plea. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and the serious consequences faced by those involved in such heinous crimes.