Sexual predator who wanted to have sex with two young girls caught by undercover officer

A sexual predator who wanted to have sex with two young girls travelled from his Leicester home to Warrington to meet their mum.

But unknown to Anthony Goward (correct) their mum, with whom he had been chatting on social media, was actually an undercover police officer involved in Operation Meteor set up to catch sexual predators.

Goward aged 52, turned up as arranged at Starbucks at the M62 services at Birchwood on midday on April 4 this year – and was promptly arrested.
He has now been put behind bars for four years four months by a judge who heard that when he began messaging the woman he described himself as “just a bad old perv”.

Goward, of Redmarle Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual assault of a child. He was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Goward contacted the woman via social media and discussed his sexual inclinations.
He suggested they move to the Mega app so they could chat more openly and the undercover officer added him to Mega.
He discussed his previous child sexual exploitation and sent images of himself. She told him she had two daughters aged five and nine.
“On March 29 he rang her and discussed meeting to sexually abuse both her daughters,” said Mr Blasbery.

He talked about what he wanted to do with the little girls and advised her to show them porn and get some poppers to help relax them.
Goward later said he had been locked out of Mega and on April 3 they were in touch on a porn site. He also contacted her via WhatsApp and said he needed to fix his vehicle because he was coming to meet her and her daughters the next day.
“He again discussed sexually abusing the two girls and how aroused he was. ” He then described sexual acts he wanted to perform
“On April 4 she received messages on Mega and WhatsApp asking ‘are they on for today?’. He said he was already on his way,” said Mr Blasbery.
When he arrived at Starbucks he chatted to the woman about his sexual interests and said he had a partner who had a young son. He said he was not interested in boys and repeatedly asked her about meeting her two daughters.
The court heard that he has six previous convictions for seven offences but none of them sexual.

Paul Becker, defending, said that Goward had pleaded guilty and there had not actually been a real child involved.
“He accepts there was sexual gratification and described having a sexual attraction to children for some time.
“He lost his self-control and made a decision to engage in communication. He is all too aware of the unacceptability of this behaviour and it was dysfunctional and illegal.”
Mr Becker said that Goward, who has qualifications in welding and engineering, is self-employed.
“He is remorseful and his attitude is one of regret. He retains the support of his family.”