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Swimming pool predator Matthew Woodgate admits attempting to rape boy in cubicle at Stour Centre, Ashford

By: Keith Hunt

Published: 00:01, 22 March 2016

A pervert who was jailed for molesting a young boy at a swimming pool has had his sentence increased - after it emerged he tried to rape the victim.

Matthew Woodgate was jailed in September 2014, sentenced to four years under an extended sentence for public protection.

Then, aged 23, he had lured the eight-year-old boy into a cubicle at The Stour Centre in Ashford and taken indecent photos and film of him.

Matthew Woodgate

But the victim later revealed the more serious nature of the offence and Woodgate admitted attempted rape.

Now, he will have to serve a minimum of a further five years before parole can be considered and he will be on licence at the end of it for two-and-a-half years.

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Woodgate, formerly of Tufton Street, Maidstone, had been jailed for two years in August 2013 for breaching the terms of a sexual offences prevention order imposed in 2008 for downloading child sex abuse images.

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

After his arrest his computers were seized and more indecent images were found.

Officers discovered the photos and video of the in the changing room at the pool. He was found after inquiries were made at schools in the area.

He told how he met Woodgate at the pool and they went into the shower together. His father became worried because he was missing for some time.

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

Judge Jeremy Carey

He admitted child abduction, engaging in sexual activity with a child, and possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

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In 2006, when Woodgate was 15, he was arrested on suspicion of oral rape on a boy, aged seven.

He was given a “final warning” and banned from unsupervised contact with children.

Under another extended sentence on Monday, Judge Jeremy Carey sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years, to be served concurrently with the four-year-term.

“I do not underestimate the impact on any child being subjected to this kind of frightening, humiliating and degrading experience, which will no doubt remain with him for many years,” said the judge.

Judge Carey said Woodgate had “come very close indeed” to actually raping the boy in the pool cubicle, and was only prevented from doing so by the victim’s father calling out for him.

“This offending was described by this court in 2014 as very serious,” said the judge.

“It is substantially more serious having regard now to the emergence of this fresh allegation of attempted rape.

The Stour Centre

“So it is you face a substantially greater sentence - and rightly so - having regard to your significantly higher criminal culpability.”

Judge Carey said it remained the position that Woodgate was a significant risk of repeated serious sexual offending until he responded to treatment.

He accepted Woodgate was earnest in his desire to have such treatment, which he said was the only positive feature of the case.

“You have a determination to address your depravity - your depraved interest in little children,” said the judge. “You need to find ways in which you can control those urges.

“This court’s principal concern is to protect the public. Your repeated offending shows just how children are at risk at your hands.”

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