May 2023

Paedophile’s 100-mile trip to Cheshire to meet ‘children’

A paedophile has been jailed after driving more than 100 miles to Warrington to meet ‘children’.

Anthony Goward from Leicester was caught in a police sting after arranging to commit child sex abuse online. He had sent a series of messages to his ‘victims’ – who were in fact undercover officers – before driving to Warrington to meet them.

Goward, 52, travelled more than 100 miles to Burtonwood services in Warrington but police were waiting for him and he was arrested at the scene

Goward, of Redmarle Road, Braunstone, was subsequently charged, and appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 5, where he pleaded guilty to arranging and facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence as well as arranging the sexual assault of a child.

Goward appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, May 3, for sentencing, and was jailed for four years and four months. He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will last 15 years.