A PREDATOR who contacted a 12-year-old girl in Australia made her watch him performing sexual acts over video platforms. 

Allan Goodall pleaded guilty to a series of sexual offences including causing or inciting a child to engage in a sexual act and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The 44-year-old struck up an online friendship with the girl before their conversations progressed to iMessage and Facetime, both video and messaging platforms.  

It was during this contact that Goodall incited her to perform sexual acts and caused her to watch him performing sexual acts. He used a combination of affection and threats to encourage her to agree to his requests.

The prosecution told the court that the contact had continued for over a year. The abuse stopped when the young girl’s father found some messages on her phone and alerted authorities in Australia, who in turn contacted Lancashire police.

Lancashire police arrested Goodall, from Leyland, and seized his mobile phone, laptop and computer. When they were examined the police found indecent images of children and evidence of his communication with the child in Australia.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) worked with the police to build a case against Goodall. The girl had to be video interviewed in Australia and it was proposed that she would give her evidence over video link from Australia if a trial took place.

Goodall initially accepted he had been in contact with the girl but claimed he thought she was 18. He denied all the sexual offences relating to the girl but pleaded guilty to the indecent photographs found by the police on his devices.

The evidence including phone messages, witness evidence and call logs led to Goodall changing his plea, a month before trial.

He pleaded guilty to nine of the fourteen charges in relation to the sexual exploitation of the girl. The other charges were ordered to lie on file.

The Lancashire man was sentenced to 8 years in prison plus a five-year extension at Preston Crown Court on the March 3. He was also given a 13-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Brett Gerrity, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS North West’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit said: “Goodall knowingly sexually exploited this young girl despite the devastating impact it would have on her. He may have believed the distance would protect him from justice but thanks to the bravery of the victim and the co-operation between agencies, he has been brought to account for his actions.

“What Goodall has subjected the young girl to is truly appalling and there can be no doubt that he is a danger to children.

“I hope the victim can now begin to move forward and find some comfort in knowing that Goodall has been punished for what he put her through.”