A high-risk “committed paedophile” who subjected a young girl to “campaign of rape” could spend a quarter of a century behind bars for his heinous crimes.
Roy Woodward, 56, of no fixed abode but previously of Runcorn and Widnes, faced justice at Chester Crown Court on Monday alongside his wife Gaynor Woodward, 58, of Worcester Court, Runcorn, who was convicted of one count of cruelty. At trial, Roy Woodward was found guilty of 14 counts of abuse, namely four of rape, eight of indecently assaulting a child, and two of indecency with a child.
Some counts represented multiple offences over a period of time, and the abuse began when the victim was of very young. At trial in January, prosecutor Matthew Dunford told jurors Woodward - who had a previous conviction of child rape - abused the girl at the centre of the trial throughout her childhood and after she turned 16.
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He instigated abuse on one occasion by telling the girl he wanted to “play snaky” and in other instances by giving her “lemonade” that was really cider. The court heard the first rape left his victim in “excruciating pain”.
At sentencing on Monday, Judge Patrick Thompson said Woodward plied his victim with sweets to secure her silence as well as alcohol to assist his grooming.
He said the abuse began when the girl was very young and became a “campaign of rape” as she grew older. In an impact statement read to the court, the abuse survivor spoke of how since her early 20s she has had “horrific nightmares” resulting from her ordeal and said she believes it also triggered a mental health condition.
She finds it hard to trust other adults, and feels she “will never be able to live a normal life”.
Reading her statement, Mr Dunford said: “I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I was denied a normal life and the chance to form my own life.
“I will never be able to live a normal life. I feel hollow and empty.
“Since my early 20s I have had horrific nightmares about the abuse suffered that I still get to this day. I can feel him repeatedly in these nightmares.
“It has affected my relationships and with my current partner. I am lucky I have the support of my partner.
“In general life, I find it hard to trust any adults because I was abused by an adult.”
Mr Dunford said Woodward had seven previous convictions for 10 offences including criminal damage, battery and the previous child rape conviction from 2018.
Gaynor Woodward had “older dissimilar” convictions including two counts under Section 4 of the Public Order Act from 1999. Andrew McInnes, representing Woodward, said the “ defendant maintains his denial ” and could not be granted credit for remorse.
Mr McInnes added the features supporting mitigation were “low” and he “conceded there are a number of aggravating features which are inescapable” including that the case involved “serious offences over a period of time”. He said although Woodward had been assessed as a “high risk of harm to female children”, he was 56 years old and will be older when he leaves prison.
He called for Judge Thompson to consider the issue of “totality”.
Maria Masselis, appearing for Gaynor Woodward, said the court had been presented with character references describing her as “hard-working woman” and “loyal friend”. She conceded Gaynor Woodward’s pre-sentence report was “unflattering” but said the probation officer had a “difficult task” and had not been in the trial, which lasted two-and-a-half weeks.
Ms Masselis said the jurors’ verdicts indicated they thought Gaynor Woodward’s offending occurred later and was of a shorter duration than put by the prosecution. She compared the cruelty count to one of handling stolen goods in that Gaynor’s failing was one of “recklessness” and she “closed her mind” to the abuse.
Ms Masselis also challenged whether there was any clinical evidence to support the victim’s attribution of mental health problems to the abuse. Judge Thompson sentenced Gaynor Woodward to four years in prison.
He said Roy Woodward should be considered a dangerous offender and “very high risk to children” and sentenced him to 21 years in prison plus four years on extended licence, meaning he could serve 25 years in prison if he offends again including after initial release.
It could be the year 2047 when he experiences life outside custody again. The judge ordered Woodward to be placed on the sex offenders register for life alongside an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
During his summing-up, he said Woodward had chosen to abuse the girl to satisfy his “twisted sexual desires”. The judge said the offences spanned about 12 years and from the victim’s age of 13 onwards “can be described as a campaign of rape”.
Considering the question of “dangerousness” in light of this current case and Woodward’s previous rape conviction, Judge Thompson said: “I’m required to consider the issue of dangerousness, and if there’s a risk of further offences and causing serious harm.
“I’m satisfied you do present a risk. I have no doubt you are a committed paedophile.
“You have an unhealthy sexual interest in children and present a danger to children.”
Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Wendy Newton, Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, said :“This victim was subjected to sexual abuse by Roy Woodward from when she was a little girl.
“The feelings and emotions of this young child meant nothing to him. His power and abuse continued as she grew up.
“She has spoken of how what he did had affected every part of her life. She now has to find a way forward in her life, having suffered such trauma. The victim was unable to disclose what had happened to her until fairly recently.
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“This often happens. It is not unusual for children to deny the abuse they have suffered or be silent as to what has happened.
“It often takes years for victims of sexual abuse to vocalise what has been done to them. The Crown Prosecution Service works hard to support the victims of sexual abuse and help them through the criminal justice system. Time is no barrier to a prosecution.
“We will listen to victims, no matter how long ago the offending took place.”
The judge ordered a statutory surcharge in respect of each defendant. Woodward will serve two thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.
Jurors acquitted Roy Woodward of one count of rape and Gaynor Woodward of one count of cruelty. A bad character application approved before the trial meant jurors were able to hear Woodward had served a previous nine-year sentence for raping a separate 13-year-old girl.
