Ex-special constable raped girl months after leaving jail

Stephen Godridge was described as having “perfected his methods over many years”

A former special constable who raped a 14-year-old girl four months after leaving prison has been jailed for a second time.

Stephen Godridge, 31, groomed the teenager on Snapchat and then took her to Breckside Park, Liverpool in November where he assaulted her.

He was described in court as having "perfected his methods over many years", having been jailed in 2019 for sexually assaulting two 15-year-old girls.

In Liverpool Crown Court, he was jailed for 10 years and eight months after being convicted of two rapes and sexual assault of the 14-year-old girl.

He was also found guilty of assault and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Previous assaults

The girl's mum told the court that her daughter suffered from mental health challenges following the attack, adding: "He has stolen my little girl."

Godridge, of Southfield Street, Bolton, groomed the teenager through video chats and arranged to pick her up in his car on 15 November.

He then took her to Breckside Park in Anfield where he raped and sexually assaulted her.

Judge Gary Woodhall described him as "highly manipulative", adding: “You were deliberately using Snapchat as a platform to identify young girls for sexualised contact."

Godridge had been a special constable with Greater Manchester Police when he was arrested in 2016 for sexually abusing two girls. He was then suspended from duty and later resigned.

Special constables are volunteer officers who assist and work alongside full-time police officers.

'Hugely traumatic'

A previous sexual harm prevention order banned Godridge from contact with those under the age of 16 but the judge said: "Your previous sentence and protective order did nothing to prevent you from offending in an almost identical way again."

During the recent trial, Godridge claimed the victim had told him she was 17 and they had consensual sex but this was rejected by the jury.

The judge imposed a life time sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Sgt Bob Sandham, from Merseyside Police, said Godridge's actions had been "hugely traumatic and had a long-lasting effect on his victim and her family".

"Godridge denied the offences forcing his victim to endure a trial. Thankfully he was convicted of these offences and will now spend a considerable period of time behind bars.

"I hope that today’s sentencing will bring the girl some sense of justice as she continues to recover."