Man jailed for raping and sexually assaulting teenager in Liverpool – Birkenhead News

On Friday 5 July, a man was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a teenager in a Liverpool park.

Stephen Godridge, 31, from Bolton, arranged to pick up the girl in his car on November 15, 2023. He then took her to Breckside Park in Anfield, where he raped and sexually assaulted her.

Godridge, who was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at the time of the offences and was on the sex offenders’ register for life for offences committed in 2019, denied the offences.

He was charged, remanded in custody and, following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in May this year, found guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and sexual assault. He was also found guilty of breaching his SHPO.

Today he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of ten years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Bob Sandham said: “Godridge’s actions have had an extremely traumatic and long-lasting impact on his victim and her family, who have been supported by specially trained officers throughout the process.

“Godridge denied the offences, forcing his victim to endure a trial. Fortunately, he was convicted of these offences and will now spend a significant amount of time behind bars.

“I hope that today’s verdict will provide the girl with some sense of justice as she continues her recovery.

“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us. We have a team of dedicated staff who will handle your reports expertly and compassionately and we will do everything we can to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously and work with partner organisations such as the Victim Care Support Service and RASA, who support victims every step of the way.”

To report a sexual offence, call 101 where you will be interviewed by specially trained officers, or you can pass the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you have been a victim of any type of sexual violence, you can get support through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service, which is run jointly by two registered charities.

In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is available from Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside which can be contacted on 0151 558 1801, and in St Helens and Knowsley from Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside which can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.

Image: Stephen Godridge/Merseyside Police

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