A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Goodness Sokoh, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in the United Kingdom for grooming and sexually abusing four teenage girls he reportedly contacted through Snapchat.
Sokoh, who is from Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, allegedly lured the teenagers by offering them free vapes and cannabis before persuading them to get into his car in Pitstone, Buckinghamshire.
Messages linked to the case reportedly covered the period between October 31 and December 17, 2025, with Sokoh allegedly using the Snapchat username ‘GWDY_SXNGS’ to communicate with the victims.
He was convicted of three counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and one count of inciting a child into sexual activity.
During sentencing, Judge Catherine Tulk condemned his actions, stating that he had deliberately groomed the girls to gain their trust and expose them to danger.
“You were grooming them so that they would trust you and put themselves into danger. You thought you could do with them whatever you wanted. Not one of them wanted to have any sexual activity with you,” the judge said.
She described his conduct as clear evidence of grooming and emphasised that he had exploited the victims’ age and vulnerability.
Victim impact statements presented during the case revealed the devastating emotional and psychological consequences the girls experienced following the abuse. Some reportedly struggled with self-harm, sleeping difficulties, leaving school and feeling unsafe.
The mother of one victim disclosed that her daughter had attempted to take her own life, adding that “her bubbly personality has dimmed” following the ordeal.
Detective Constable Natalie Palmer praised the victims for their courage and cooperation throughout the investigation, noting that they remained committed to helping the authorities pursue justice despite their traumatic experiences.
Sokoh was arrested on December 17, 2025, and formally charged two days later. Police are continuing investigations to establish whether there may be additional victims.
Under the sentence, he will serve two-thirds of his 21-year prison term before becoming eligible for parole. He has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register and given a lifetime restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the four victims.
The case has raised further concerns about online grooming and the exploitation of teenagers through social media platforms, highlighting the importance of safeguarding young people and encouraging them to report suspicious approaches to trusted adults or law enforcement authorities.
