By ASHLEIGH MCCAULL Published: 12:51 BST, 29 September 2025 | Updated: 16:45 BST, 29 September 2025
An Eton-educated interior designer hurled racist and homophobic abuse at police while he was being arrested for drink-driving.Matthew Godley, 65, was almost twice the drink-drive limit when officers pulled him over at a petrol forecourt in the early hours of May 27 to inspect damage to his vehicle.But Godley, who did not wanted to be recorded on body worn video, became aggressive to officers and started hurling vile abuse at them.During the incident, the company director called PC James Arnold a 'queer b*****d' and a 'bender' after noticing he had a pierced ear and shouted 'I'm being arrested by a f***ing homosexual'.He then turned his anger towards a petrol station cashier, who happened to be outside at the time, and repeatedly shouted 'Hindu c***' at him as he was pinned to the ground by officers.Godley, who owns a £415,000 cottage in the nearby village of Chedington, appeared at Weymouth magistrates where he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and a string of public order offences. Magistrates heard Godley was under the influence of alcohol when he was pulled over on Sea Road North in Bridport, Dorset, at around 3.15am.A breathalyser test revealed Godley was 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant is in a motor vehicle. He does a U-turn and they see damage to his vehicle so want to speak to him. Matthew Godley, 65, was caught drunk at the wheel when officers pulled him over at a petrol forecourt in the early hours of May 27 to inspect damage to his vehicle. 'He pulls onto the petrol station forecourt, walks over to police and hands them his keys and says 'go on take my car'.'He is in drink at the time, he has already pleaded guilty to excess alcohol.'The prosecutor said Godley appeared to be angry at the body-worn camera PC Arnold had switched on.She said: 'He says the defendant 'attempted to hit my body worn video, he didn't want to be recorded. He grabbed at my tac (tactical) vest'.'He took him to the ground to secure him there and arrested him for assaulting a police officer.'Whilst on the ground he continued to be aggressive.'The petrol station cashier, who was nothing to do with it, was outside and he started shouting 'Hindu c***' at him on a number of occasions.'He continued with his behaviour towards the police officers.'Whilst he was being arrested he said 'why have you got a pierced ear you queer b*****d? Is it because you're a bender? This guy's a bender, I'm being arrested by a f***ing homosexual'.' Godley appeared at Weymouth magistrates where he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and a string of public order offencesAccording to his website, he attended the prestigious Inchbald School of Design in Chelsea which counts Nina Campbell and Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill among its alumni.Godley's portfolio ranges from 'English estates to London clubs and international apartments' with jobs costing from £20,000 to £500,000.Projects have included commercial venues like the private members' club The Cobden Club and the restaurant of the four-star Claremont Hotel on the Isle of Man, as well as private homes in the Cotswolds, Cornwall and abroad in places like Berlin.His work has been featured in magazines including Country Life and Elle Decoration.Godley pleaded guilty to all charges including using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause alarm or distress, racially aggravated threatening words or behaviour and assaulting a police officer.He had already pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.Sentencing was adjourned until November so probation reports can be prepared.Kevin Hill, defending, said he would wait until then to put forward Godley's account and mitigation.
