MARIO GOULD FROM MIDDLESBROUGH ESCAPES PRISON AFTER BOASTING ABOUT CHILD ABUSE IMAGE COLLECTION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Middlesbrough, a man named Mario Gould was found to have been involved in the possession and sharing of indecent images of children. The incident came to light in December 2020 when Gould, aged 37, was discovered to have a significant collection of illicit material, which he openly boasted about online.

Gould was actively using a social media platform to access, exchange, and promote videos and photographs depicting child abuse. His online activity attracted the attention of authorities after Cleveland Police received a credible tip-off indicating that he was searching for and sharing content associated with child sexual exploitation. The police investigation revealed that Gould had been using search terms that are commonly associated with individuals seeking child abuse images, which ultimately led to his arrest.

Following a raid on his residence in Middlesbrough in February of the previous year, law enforcement officials uncovered a troubling cache of illicit material. During the investigation, Gould admitted to having access to a total of 67 Category A images, which are considered the most severe in terms of criminal content, along with 205 Category B and 462 Category C images. These figures underscore the extent of his involvement in the possession of child abuse material.

Prosecutor Ellen Wright highlighted a particularly disturbing message found among Gould’s communications, stating, “One of the messages read ‘I can afford to be picky because I have a nice collection’,” which demonstrated his pride in his illicit collection. During police interviews, Gould claimed that his offending was not related to his partner and initially denied having any sexual interest in children. However, the evidence against him was substantial.

At Teesside Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Carroll addressed Gould directly, emphasizing the importance of treatment over punishment in this case. The judge expressed the view that Gould’s ongoing struggles with his sexual preferences and deviant behavior indicated a need for therapeutic intervention. He remarked, “At the moment you are still struggling to come to terms with your offences and sexual proclivity and that such sexual interest is regarded, quite rightly, as truly horrifying by the general public.”

Gould was sentenced to eight months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he reoffended. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and was issued a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for the same duration. This order aims to restrict his access to children and prevent further harm, reflecting the serious concern authorities have regarding his potential risk to the community.