Simon Goode

[Peter]

Sex fiend faces jail
By Press reporter
GUILTY: Simon Goode, 19, must register as a sex offender

A TEENAGE sex offender could be locked up indefinitely after he abused a nine-year-old girl during childhood games.

The girl told a jury how Simon Paul Anthony Goode, 19, took her away from her friends as they played in a field and tried to rape her.

He also threatened her and abused her on three other occasions as she and her friends were playing hide and seek or a game called "training". The abuse occurred over an  eight-month period.

"He doesn't take no for an answer," she said.

Goode denied all the abuse, but the jury at York Crown Court convicted him on four charges after more than five-and-a-half hours in retirement. He must now register as a sex offender by tomorrow.

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman, said Goode must understand that custody must be the inevitable sentence.

The judge adjourned sentence for a probation service report. Because Goode tried to rape the girl, the judge must decide whether or not to give him an indefinite prison sentence when he returns to court in June.

Defence barrister Tom Mitchell agreed Goode would spend a "significant" time behind bars.

Goode, of Quarry Hill, Appleton-le-Street, near Malton, had denied attempted rape, two sexual assaults on the girl and causing or inciting her to engage in a sex act with him.

He showed no reaction to the verdicts, other than a slight shake of the head at the end and was released on bail. He had no previous convictions.

From the witness box, the former shelf stacker at a Morrisons supermarket had denied setting up games for a group of children such as hide and seek and "training", in which older children taught younger children how to do cartwheels, and play rugby or football.

He had claimed he had never threatened the girl, kissed her inappropriately or been alone with her.

But at the start of the three-day trial, prosecution barrister Simon Hickey said: "During some innocent games and under the pretext of those innocent games, say the prosecution, he took the opportunity to assault her in a number of ways."

The girl told the jury through a police video and a TV link how he had taken her away during the games.

Eventually, she told her friend about the abuse and, finally, her mother.

8:42am Friday 4th May 2007

                                     * * * * * * * * * * * *

Okay, before you all get excited about the surface value of Simon's conviction there are a few ponts that need clarification....

1.   Simon was convicted purely on circumstantial evidence.
2.   Medical reports stated that there was no evidence of interference.
3.   The girls original accusation stated 'penetration'.
4.   Shona (Ooops..!) changed her statement via her Baristor's advice.
5.   Mother and daughter, collectively, had made four previous accusations of rape...
6.   ... all of which were overturned.
7.   Simon was told that ANY reaction to a guilty verdict would render him liable to a
      further 5 years imprisonment.
8.   Simon was not allowed key witnesses to testify on his behalf.
9.   A plea bargain was offered to Simon to plead guilty and only receive a 4-7 year 
      prison term instead of a life (14-25 years) sentence. He declined.
10.  The guy is INNOCENT!

Is it the same in The U.S? Can someone be convicted of a crime solely on one persons word against another's with NO evidence?

Peter M.

[Granny B]

No, in the US they have the right to make the victim face them in the court room.  A lot of children are unable to do this.  Our system seldom allows a child to testify on Closed Circuit tv.  A lot sex offenders get away with it in the US because of the fact, the child has been threated by the sex offender, and then the child cannot face them in open court, so they get to plead to a lesser sentence.

And they had better have good evidence, because it will need to be presented at court.  Need good medical documentation of sexual assault. If there is no penetration here, the offender will likely get away with it.

And the sex offender will have all kinds of witnesses on his behalf.

And the judge can't add on to the sentence for making a face in court.

[hangman]

Wouldn't be the first time some girl had made accusations of that sort.

As I see it, when it's word against word, it's too uncertain and the accused should be let go.

[Peter]

WOW, Granma. I knew summin weren't right about this case! Still, your Country is yours and my Country mine... Fascinating stuff though, eh? Perhaps you would be so kind as to give your opinion on the letter I wrote to Simon's Probation Officer. Do you think it will do any good? Do you think I did the right thing in writing it?

Here goes:

                                         * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To Whom It Might Concern:

A Charactor Reference for Simon Goode.


Recently, Simon was convicted of a crime. He is now awaiting sentence for that crime.

I am a firm believer in 'The System' as without it we would not be a civilised society. I also, unreservedly put my faith into same.

Having met Simon around five years ago in my capacity of the local village bus driver I had the opportunity of getting to know both him and his family (of which other members used the service) on an almost daily basis. I transported Simon over the years from his home to Malton School, then College and finally to his workplace at Morrisons Supermarket in Malton.

It is rare that a bus driver pays a regular passenger more than simply a professional interest but I did so with Simon. I found him to be friendly, kind and polite. I always looked forward to his being on my bus.

My opinion of Simon is that he is a trustworthy and also trusting person. Someone who I am proud to call a friend.




05 May 2007

Peter M.
Address etc.

                                              * * * * * * * * * * * *

Your comments (don't be bashful, mind) most welcome. Is a hard time for all of us in Simon's corner. A fresh perspective would be most welcome... 

[Granny B]

Peter,

I always play the Devil's Advocate when asked for a fresh perspective.

I understand you wanting to go all out and give him a good reference as you know him somewhat, but what if he actually did it?  Would you be willing to stake your reputation on this boy?  Would you be willing to look like a chump if he really did do it?

You weren't in court for the trial were you?  Are you just taking the word of family and friends in this case?  Family and friends put a different slant on everything because they want to believe in that person's innocence.  I've listened to family and friends after a court hearing, and you would have thought they were in a different courtroom than I was in for the same trial.

The good friends defense:  I know him.  been huntin' and fishin' with em.  Known him all my life and he didn't do it cuz he's a good ole' boy.  We call this the good ole boy defense here in the south. But good ole' boys can beat their wives, rape their daughters, or rob the local liquor store, same as someone we don't know.

Look at what happens in cases after court hearings.  There is always someone second guessing the prosecutors, defense attorneys, the judge and the jury.  And there is always someone out there who is gullible enough to believe the perp did not do it.

There must have been some kind of evidence for the guy in this case to get charged and sentenced, is my feeling on this.  Truthfully, from things I have read about the UK justice system, I always thought they were soft on crime.  Just my take on it from what I have read and heard on tv.

Be sure you know this guy as well as you think you do before staking your reputation and integrity in a letter on someone who may not be deserving as you believe he is, is all I can advise.

Good Luck on your decision.

Grandmother of Brandon

[James]

Looks like somebody is gonna be Big Bubba's Bitch!       

[Eryn Baugh]

Is it the same in The U.S? Can someone be convicted of a crime solely on one persons word against another's with NO evidence?

Only in Durham, N.C.......

[Jeff1857]

Yeah yeah ..Let's start talkin about NC lol....It's true though. And I'm sure those lacrosse kids are STILL waitin on an apology from Jesse and Sharpton.

[Freedom]

Hi Peter,

That's really a tough one. I agree with Brandon's Grandma that you should always hear both sides of the story and never judge on unilateral information, for as much as a friend the guy is to you. (Although that's easier said than done, as I would probably react the same way; it is hard to be neutral when it comes to family or friends isn't it ?).

Nevertheless, I can hardly believe that he is being convicted without any evidence but the word of the (supposed) victim. I believe that even in the UK you are innocent until PROVEN guilty.

[Peter]

Thanks, Granma, Freedom AND James (Hee-Hee! That thought had crossed my mind as well!).

My decision of how to react to Simon's conviction has been based on your comments and also a simple question that my Karen asked me: "Would you let him babysit our daughter?".

Hmm......... 

Reasonable doubt......... 

Hmm.......... 

NO!

Thanks, once again, ya'wl!

Peter M.

 

[James]

You are very welocme Peter. Your Karen has a very good question.

[Granny B]

I think you made the right decision.

Smart lady, Peter, she's a keeper!!

Grandmother of Brandon

[Peter]

Hi to Grandmother, Freedom and Big Daddy!!

This is Karen, Peter M girlfriend.  I just want to say thank you for the posts you wrote regarding Simon.

When I met Peter, he was already good friends with the family.  He told me all about Simon and the reason why he was held on remand in prison.  Obviously, my reaction was like everyone else's I suppose... Innocent until proven Guilty.  I only met Simon a couple of times whilst he was in prison and a couple once he was allowed out on bail until his court appearance.

When I was told by Simon's father that he had been found guilty of the crime he'd been charged for, my attitude changed, mainly because we have a baby on the way and being a girl!!  I asked Peter would he allow Simon around or near our daughter in the future and his answer was the same as mine NO..

To cut a long story short, the father of Simon came to our house to collect the character reference that Peter agreed to write for him and his wife in hope it will help Simon's chances of not being sent to prison.  When he was there, he explained a little about what happened in court, you could see he was very upset and wanting our support.  I did feel a little guilty because I started thinking, perhaps Simon was innocent, however, I still questioned my mind and decided that 12 people found him guilty, and even in the future, if Simon is released or even if he doesn't end up going to prison but just spending time on probation, I still would not allow his near our daughter 'Alone'. 

When you wrote your post regarding your thoughts, all my guilt disappeared.  You said exactly what I was thinking but being Peter's girlfriend I didn't want him feeling pressured because after all he did know this family alot longer than I did, but as it happened he agreed with me!!

Karen   

[Granny B]

Karen said, "When you wrote your post regarding your thoughts, all my guilt disappeared.  You said exactly what I was thinking but being Peter's girlfriend I didn't want him feeling pressured because after all he did know this family alot longer than I did, but as it happened he agreed with me!!


Glad to be of help.  I tell people I meet in my work capacity to trust their "gut instinct."   It may save their life one day.  People do not realize that they take in more than enough information around themselves.  That information is processed subconsciously day and night.  In that morass of information are things big and small that your brain stores and you retrieve what your brain knows and remembers.  When you get a "feeling" that something is not right, you should always listen to it.  It is the sum of your knowledge that your brain uses to tell you that something is not right and you should not ignore this feeling.  That instinct has saved me from some disasters in the past.  But ignoring that same instinct on several occasions has caused me no end of problems.   You hear someone say, I had a feeling that I should not have done that, but I did it anyway, and look how this turned out.  That is your "gut instinct" with all the processed information telling you there is something fishy about this and you should not do it.

My family has learned this lesson over the years the hard way.

I have a hard time in believing in someone's innocence after a jury has heard the evidence and found someone guilty.  My instincts tell me that they heard something you don't know about the person to have found him guilty.

Good luck to you and Peter, Karen.  Hope you have a healthy happy baby girl.  Give her hugs and kisses from us when she arrives.

Grandmother of Brandon

[James]

Karen and Peter congratulations on ya'lls new addition and wish you both lots of happiness.