DALE BOLINGER: CANNIBAL FANTASIST FROM CANTERBURY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND PLOT TO MEET TEENAGER

In September 2014, Dale Bolinger, a 58-year-old nurse from Canterbury, was sentenced to nine years in prison after a series of disturbing crimes linked to his online activities and violent fantasies. Bolinger, who kept his sinister desires hidden from his wife, engaged in perverted conversations on the Dark Fetish Network, a website notorious for its content related to rape, murder, and cannibalism.

He believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl from Germany, whom he referred to as 'Eva.' During these chats, Bolinger discussed gruesome plans, including buying an axe, beheading his victim, and then consuming her flesh. His conversations revealed a disturbing fixation on violence and cannibalism, with Bolinger claiming to have murdered a five-year-old child and a 39-year-old Caribbean former colleague. He also attempted to poison his former colleague, Urlene King, with dry cleaning fluid, an act that she later confided to Bolinger’s wife but did not report to authorities at the time.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Judge Adele Williams delivered a stern judgment, condemning Bolinger’s arrogance and manipulative attitude. She pointed out that he showed no remorse and failed to comprehend the abnormality and criminality of his actions. The judge emphasized the danger posed by Bolinger’s fantasies, which could potentially escalate into real acts of violence, and warned that his discussions could incite others to commit similar crimes.

Bolinger, an American citizen, faces the possibility of deportation after serving his sentence. A psychiatric assessment concluded that he was not suffering from mental illness and that his warped fantasies would likely persist regardless of his punishment. As a precaution, the court imposed a ban on his internet access without supervision, citing his use of the Dark Fetish Network to feed his fantasies and influence others.

The investigation into Bolinger’s activities was extensive, involving cooperation between UK and US law enforcement agencies. The FBI traced his email address, [email protected], which was linked to his online chats. These logs contained graphic discussions of sexual abuse, murder, and cannibalism involving women and children of various ages, including infants. Evidence also showed that Bolinger traveled to Ashford International station in September 2012, with an axe in his car, intending to meet 'Eva.' However, she never appeared, and Bolinger returned home.

Further evidence revealed that Bolinger had stored disturbing images of children in oven-like scenarios on his computer and had previously attacked a woman by smothering her with a cloth soaked in dry cleaning fluid. His criminal record also includes a guilty plea for administering a noxious substance to a woman in 2010.

During his trial, Bolinger denied any intent to kill, eat, or sexually assault anyone, claiming his actions were purely fantasies. However, the jury found him guilty of attempting to meet a girl under 16 for sexual grooming. The court’s decision was based on the substantial evidence, including his purchase of an axe and his online communications.

Detective Superintendent Tim Smith of Kent Police expressed his concern over Bolinger’s dangerous nature, highlighting the collaborative effort with US authorities to uncover his true identity and gather evidence. He assured the public that law enforcement agencies would continue to pursue and prosecute individuals involved in such heinous online activities, emphasizing that there is no hiding place for those with malicious intent.