DALE GOLL AND SHOCKING CRIME IN EVESHAM AND PITCHILL NEAR ALCESTER

Dale Goll, a 51-year-old resident of Pitchill Cottages in Pitchill, near Alcester, has become the subject of a serious criminal case involving the possession and distribution of explicit and illegal images. Goll’s personal crimes have brought to light disturbing allegations concerning the exploitation of children and the possession of sexually explicit material involving animals.

Goll was found to possess a total of 36 highly illegal and extreme pornographic images that depicted bestiality, involving adults engaging in sexual acts with horses and dogs. These images are classified as prohibited content, reflecting the gravity of the offenses. Additionally, law enforcement authorities uncovered several pseudo-photographs that falsely depicted children in indecent acts, further intensifying the seriousness of the charges against him.

He faced multiple charges, which included three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing images categorized as extreme pornography, and another count involving the possession of prohibited images of children. The court heard that Goll pleaded guilty to these charges, acknowledging the criminal conduct for which he was responsible.

The case was brought before Warwick Crown Court, where a judge sentenced Goll to 12 months in prison. The court also ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, emphasizing the importance of monitoring his activities and safeguarding the community from any potential harm.

The proceedings revealed that police had initially taken action after receiving intelligence suggesting that Goll had been accessing and downloading child pornography through file-sharing software. The police executed a warrant at his residence and, during their investigation, Goll was interviewed and admitted to downloading such images. Authorities seized seven electronic devices from his home, which were subsequently examined by digital forensic experts.

Forensic analysis uncovered that three of these devices—two computer towers and a hard drive—contained illegal images downloaded on various dates spanning from 2005 to 2015. These images included a total of 27 category A images, considered the most serious content, featuring children being subjected to sexual abuse, including a disturbing photograph of a baby no older than two years. Further, there was an incomplete video of a girl between eight and twelve years old performing a sexual act on an adult. In addition, investigators identified 21 images categorized as B and 11 images classified as C, further illustrating the extent of Goll’s possession of illegal material.

The evidence also showed that Goll had installed peer-to-peer file-sharing software on one of his computers, which he used to download these images. Numerous images were deleted after viewing, suggesting an attempt to conceal his activities. During questioning, Goll admitted to downloading the images, expressing awareness that his actions were wrong but claiming he was addicted, though he denied any physical attraction to children.

Goll’s defense attorney, Marcus Harry, acknowledged the limited scope of the offenses, noting that only eight of the more than 50 images were accessible at the time and that only one was a video. Harry argued that Goll was not someone who frequently downloaded such material and that he had been struggling with episodes of anxiety and depression, which reportedly made resisting the temptation more difficult.

Goll, married for over 20 years with two adult sons aged 20 and 17, also runs a plant nursery business where he employs seven staff members. His employment history and family commitments were brought into the case, with the defense asking the court to consider a suspended sentence, emphasizing that prison would significantly impact his employees and family.

However, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano emphasized the severity and repulsiveness of the crimes, stating, “You knew at the time it was wrong. The reason it is so serious is that although it may not seem like it when you’re sitting in front of your computer, these are real children being abused.” The judge highlighted that the existence of a market for such images fuels ongoing abuse, and individuals like Goll contribute to this harmful demand.

Concluding her remarks, the judge underscored the importance of deterrence and public policy, insisting that such offenders must be imprisoned regardless of mitigation factors: “If adult men download images of children being horrifically abused then, no matter what the mitigation, public policy must outweigh that, and people who do this must go to prison.” The sentence reflects a broader judgment on society’s stance against these heinous crimes and a message that such conduct warrants immediate and appropriate punishment.