Sex offender was attempting to groom more than 2,250 children.

Luton Man Jailed for Eight Years for Sex Offenses Against Children

A Luton man has been jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to 28 offenses against girls aged between 12 and 15 years.

Conor Godfrey, 28, of Barton Road, admitted to a number of charges, including engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child, inciting children to engage in sexual activity, and making and distributing indecent images of children.

Following a two-year investigation by Bedfordshire Police's Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT), he was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Thursday (28 April).

The investigation began after a report from a 13-year-old girl who Godfrey had groomed online to perform sexualized acts on herself using Snapchat. Investigations revealed that Godfrey was communicating with over 2,250 children across the world online, including hundreds in the UK. Seven victims provided statements to police.

Godfrey had met one 14-year-old girl on multiple occasions and performed sexual acts on her. He had posed online as a 16-18-year-old to groom and gain the trust of vulnerable victims. The offenses took place when Godfrey was between the ages of 21 and 27.

In May 2020, officers arrested Godfrey and seized several electronic devices. These devices contained records of multiple sexual conversations with young girls, where Godfrey recorded his interactions and later used them to threaten them. Investigators also found that he had accessed other indecent images of children online and had indecent material of the victims.

Godfrey was sentenced to a total of eight years in prison with a four-year extended sentence on licence. He was deemed a dangerous offender and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.

Investigation Officer Emma Shipton, who led the operation, said: "He clearly poses a danger to young girls both online and offline, and I hope this result sends a clear message that such activity is taken extremely seriously, and perpetrators will face the consequences for their disturbing and vile behaviour. I would especially like to thank the victims and their families for their support in bringing this abhorrent man to justice."