‘Lying dad’ claimed he was urinating after following girl however reality was a lot darker
Lewis Godfrey, 23, followed the woman through the town centre in Gillingham, Kent. He claimed he only stopped to relieve himself but was convicted of exposure in court
He claimed he only stopped to relieve himself(Image: Meghan Shaw/Cover Images)
A young dad has narrowly avoided prison after he followed a woman through a town centre and down an alleyway before masturbating in front of her.
Lewis Godfrey, 23, told her, “I know you want it” as he did it, a court was told. He claimed he only stopped to relieve himself and was urinating but was convicted of exposure.
He was spared jail by a judge who told him he needs to “look in the mirror”. Maidstone Crown Court was told that at around mid-morning on January 8, 2024, Godfrey followed his victim from a shopping centre in Gillingham, Kent.
He continued as she walked along the street, before overtaking her. Godfrey then started masturbating in front of her while making lewd remarks.
Because of Godfrey’s continued insistence he was urinating, prosecutor Pietro Matarazzo said: “The defendant can’t be said to show any kind of remorse for his actions in this case.”
In a victim impact statement the victim, who was in her 30s, said she had “never felt vulnerable walking alone” before. She said: “Since that day, that confidence has been knocked. I now feel vulnerable in situations where I never did before.
“I do not like men walking behind me. If a man is behind me, I immediately question his intentions. I hate that I feel this way. I hate that something has been taken from me that I cannot simply get back.
“It has been just over two years since the offence, and I still feel this way. I hope in time that this insecurity will fade, but at present it remains part of my daily life.”
She claimed that Godfrey, who has no previous convictions, had multiple opportunities to walk away, but chose to continue even though he knew he was scaring her. She added: “That decision to persist, despite knowing the fear he was causing, felt cruel and deliberate. It made me feel targeted and preyed upon.
“This offence may have been a brief act for him, but it has had a lasting effect on me. He was able to walk away from it. I was not.
“This predatory behaviour is not acceptable. Women should be able to walk home without fear. I stood up not only for myself but for every woman who has ever been followed, frightened, or violated in this way.”
Mitigating, James Harrison said that Godfrey, of Canvey Island, in Essex, is of “good character” and is a “very hardworking man”. He said: “He accepts what she said she saw would have a profound impact. He acknowledges and accepts that the way he conducted himself did impact her.
“This has been a lesson. He will not darken the hallway of the court again.”
Judge St John-Stevens said it must have been a” terrifying experience”. He said: “You can still not come to terms with the offence you have been convicted of. I still cannot understand how you maintain your innocence.
“The effect on the victim has been significant. She described herself as being confident and independent, but now feels vulnerable when walking alone. She stood up for herself and every woman who has been followed and been frightened and violated as you did. She should be proud of her strength to do that.
“She was believed in the court process. She should take that away and start to rebuild her life.”
He added: “You committed this offence. You need to look in the mirror and accept that and move on with your life. It might be embarrassment or shame or guilt, but only you know. As you mature, you may be mature enough to confront what you have done. You are a liar.”
He sentenced Godfrey, who hung his head while in the dock, to five months’ imprisonment suspended for 15 months and ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. The judge also imposed a seven-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim and awarded £500 compensation to the woman.
Speaking after the sentencing, the woman said: “My justice was being believed. You should be able to walk to and from the shops and feel safe. I went through this to show other women who have been in similar situations that it will be taken seriously.
“I hope this helps anyone who has had something like this happen, the encouragement to come forward. It is not right, and we do not deserve that to happen to us.”
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