Terry Godwin 39

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A vile sex offender who assaulted a girl hundreds of times left a 'horrible shadow' lingering over her for decades. Terry Godwin targeted his victim when she was a young child.

The abuse went on for years - haunting his victim for 'as long as she can remember', Liverpool Crown Court heard. Godwin even paid money in an attempt to buy his victim's silence.

But decades later, he has finally faced justice for his evil crimes. The court heard on Tuesday (August 20) how the victim came forward to police in 2022, the Liverpool Echo reports.

David Polglase, prosecuting, described how the complainant told Merseyside Police she 'spent her life pretending that the abuse didn't happen'. Godwin was aged between 12 and 19 when the offences took place, and was said to have sexually abused his victim more than 250 times.

The now 39-year-old, of Corwen Close in Moreton, Wirral, assaulted her while masturbating and instructed her to perform sexual acts on him before 'giving her money to keep quiet'. In a statement read to the court on her behalf, the victim said: "For as long as I can remember, I have had this horrible, dark shadow over my life.

"It has affected me in ways it is hard to begin to explain. The shame I felt, I still feel. I have led an extremely lonely life and I have never truly known happiness. I have considered whether it would be easier not to be here. The trauma has stolen my childhood and a lot of my adult life."

She added: "This was all that I knew - pain and misery at the hands of Terry Godwin. He has ingrained feelings inside me that make me feel like I don't deserve to be loved. Happiness is an emotion that only other people feel.

"I believe this man to be a danger to young girls. I am already thinking about the time when he walks the streets again and I am worried what he might be capable of."

Godwin, who has no previous convictions, admitted a total of 42 child sex offences including indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. Rebecca Smith, defending, told the court: "It is quite clear that he has always offered an apology.

"It may not be worth much, but he has always reflected and indicated not only an apology for his behaviour but also how he is disgusted with the offences he committed. The defendant has had to have a number of biopsies and has had to have surgery, and he has had a diagnosis of a rare swallowing condition called achalasia. It is something he will have to deal with, and it might be somewhat more difficult to deal with when he is incarcerated."

Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, Godwin was jailed for seven years - of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release - and handed an additional year on licence. Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "There has been read to me a particularly moving victim personal statement in which your victim has described how what you did has cast a horrible, dark shadow over the entirety of her life.

"She continues to live with what she describes as the mental torture of what you did to her. These feelings are with her every day of her life. I am satisfied that your victim has suffered severe psychological harm. You gave her money in an attempt to persuade her not to tell anyone what you were doing."

"I take into account your subsequent lack of offending. You have reached the age of 39 without committing any further offences. I take into account your ill health."

Godwin was also handed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for life. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.