'CHEEKY CHARLIE SEX GOD' MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTER JAILED FOR 17 YEARS AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF RAPING TWO WOMEN AND THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF ANOTHER

A 21-year-old mixed martial arts fighter formerly of Salford and now living in Liverpool, has been jailed for 17-years after being found guilty of raping two women as well as the sexual assault of another.

Charles Lawrence Goodwin Jr, of Hilbre Street, Liverpool was sentenced today, Monday 21 March, to 17 years (plus three years on licence) for rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration and attempted choking, against three women in Manchester and Liverpool. 
 
On Tuesday 14 January 2020, a 22-year-old woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, attended a nightclub in Manchester where she met Goodwin, who was engaging in conversation with her friends. He introduced himself as Charlie, and described himself as a boxer. 
 
After talking for a time,  Goodwin and the woman kissed, during which Goodwin became quite forceful. He asked the woman to come back to his flat in Salford, to which the woman said no, and then asked if he could go back to her flat in Manchester. 
 
The woman had intended to return to the flat with friends after the club, and so knew her friends would be returning at some point, and felt it would be safe to allow him to go with her. Goodwin got into a taxi with the woman around 2:20am on Wednesday 15 January 2020 and headed back to her flat.
 
Once inside, Goodwin immediately initiated sex, which the woman consented to. However half way through, Goodwin became violent towards the woman, choking her, hitting her, verbally abusing her, and attempting to perform sexual acts that she repeatedly said no to. She was left with significant bruising as a result. 
 
The woman's flatmates then arrived home and interrupted Goodwin's further attempts to continue, knocking on the door and distracting him enough for the woman to get away from him. The woman asked him to leave - at which point Goodwin became verbally abusive towards her and her friends. 
 
The woman then bravely called police a short time later, and reported the incident. Goodwin attended a police station for interview the following day, Tuesday 16 January 2020. He was then bailed with conditions. 
 
On 5 October 2020, Merseyside Police received a report that Goodwin had sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman at an address on London Road, Liverpool on 30 September 2020.
 
This was followed by a further report that Goodwin had raped a 20-year-old woman on 27th September 2020 at the same address. 
 
Officers quickly arrested Goodwin. He was questioned by police and bailed with conditions while officers carried out further enquiries including interviewing the victims, interviewing witnesses, analysing mobile phone records, CCTV and medical evidence. 
 
The University of Liverpool were informed of Goodwin's arrest in order for safeguarding measures to be put in place.
 
Following an extensive investigation, Goodwin was charged by Greater Manchester Police with rape in February 2021 and was placed on an electronic tag with a curfew by the court, while awaiting trial. 
 
On 4th May 2021, police received a report that Goodwin had sexually assaulted a 21-year-old woman at an address on Skelhorne Street, Liverpool. 
 
Officers attended the address and arrested Goodwin. He was charged and remanded into custody on 5th May 2021. 

Following a trial, on Friday 21 January, Goodwin was found guilty of three charges of raping a woman in Manchester, and of assaulting her by penetration. He was also found guilty of one charge of raping a woman in Liverpool.

He was further convicted of two offences of sexually assaulting a third woman in Liverpool but cleared him of a sexual assault on a fourth woman, also in Liverpool.
 
Detective Constable Kevin Boyd, from GMP's City of Manchester District said:

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"We're pleased with today's result, that shows categorically, this kind of violence towards women and girls will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
 
"No-one should be at risk when going about their daily lives, and we want all members of our community, especially women and girls, to feel safe as we strive every day to make Greater Manchester a safer place to live. 
 
"I would like to thank the victims in this case for having the courage to report what happened to them, and for going through the ordeal of a trial to help us make sure that Goodwin was held accountable for his crimes. I hope today's sentence gives them some closure to a difficult chapter in their lives.
 
"I would also like to thank our colleagues at Merseyside Police for their efforts in working with us on this extensive investigation to ensure that Goodwin was brought to justice."

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Parry from Merseyside Police said:

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“Today’s results shows that  at Merseyside Police, we are clear that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice. 
 
“Despite the evidence against him, Goodwin chose to plead not guilty and put his victims through the ordeal of a trial. I would like to praise the courage and dignity shown by his victims throughout the investigation.  I hope today’s sentencing will not only provide them with justice, but also encourage other victims to come forward and have the confidence in us as a police force to take reports seriously and ultimately ensure offenders are put before the courts.

"If you have been the victim of any sexual assault, there is help and support available to you. Here at Merseyside Police we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and treat you with sensitivity and compassion. There are also a number of reliable and trusted organisations and charities who will support you from your initial report, right through the court process and beyond.” 

You can report a sexual offence allegation by calling 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

For women who have felt or feel unsafe in public spaces the Home Office has set up a pilot service (StreetSafe | Police.uk (www.police.uk)  for anyone to anonymously report public places where they have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, e.g. street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, e.g. being followed or verbally abused. Please note: 'StreetSafe' is not for reporting crime or incidents.