Man jailed for molesting boy at town leisure centre

A convicted sex offender who molested a boy at Ashford’s Stour Centre has been jailed for four years under an extended sentence for public protection.

Matthew Woodgate will be on licence for a further two years after a judge decided he was a danger to the public.

The 23-year-old, formerly of Tufton Street, Maidstone, will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be released.

Woodgate was jailed for two years at Canterbury Crown Court in August last year for breaching the terms of a sexual offences prevention order imposed in 2008 for downloading child sex abuse images.

The breach in June last year involved him engaging in lewd conversation with two eight-year-old boys at the Stour Centre swimming pool.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told Maidstone Crown Court on Friday that after Woodgate’s arrest his computers were seized and more indecent images were hidden on a “virtual computer” within them.

Officers discovered photos and a video of a boy aged about eight exposing himself in a changing room at the pool in March last year. He was found after inquiries were made at schools in the area.

He told how he met a man call Matt at the leisure centre and they went into the shower together. He was missing for some time and his father was concerned that he had been abducted.

Miss Todd said: “They appeared from the back of the changing room. It is believed that during that time still photos and a video were taken.”

Woodgate told the boy: “I hope you are not going to make a fuss and report me to the police like other people.”

Miss Todd said more indecent images of boys were found.

Woodgate, now of Brighton Road, Lewes, admitted child abduction, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

In 2006, when Woodgate was 15, he was arrested on suspicion of oral rape involving a boy aged seven. He was given a “final warning” and banned from unsupervised contact with children.

Judge Jeremy Carey said it was the third conviction for serious sexual offending.

He told Woodgate: “Those who have

‘Matthew Woodgate is clearly a predatory sex offender and poses a significant risk to children in our community’

brought you to justice rightly have concerns about your danger to the public.

“The effect of your offending is that you face a very substantial custodial sentence. Without further intervention you remain a danger.”

The judge said it was highly relevant that the latest offences predated the sentence at Canterbury Crown Court last year.

Woodgate had a recognition of his offending and had declared he did not want to be the person he was.

Judge Carey said: “These expressions are easily made, but it is a start. You have taken advantage of courses while in custody.”

The Stour Centre, where Woodgate molested the boy at the swimming pool