NICHOLAS GOLD FROM BRACKNELL SENTENCED AFTER SECOND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN READING

In October 2018, Nicholas Gold, a resident of Juniper in Bracknell, faced serious legal consequences at Reading Crown Court after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children for the second time. The case highlighted the ongoing issues surrounding the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders involved in child pornography crimes, especially in light of recent cuts to government-funded services.

Gold, aged 59, was handed a suspended prison sentence by Judge Ian Grainger, who emphasized that the reductions in the Probation Service had deprived him of the opportunity to undergo proper counseling following his initial conviction in 2011. The judge acknowledged Gold’s previous record but pointed out that he had not been given a chance to address underlying issues that may have contributed to his offending behavior.

The court was informed that Gold’s life had unraveled further after police discovered a second cache of child pornography on his devices. Specifically, authorities found 43 indecent images of children on his laptop, which had been accumulated over a period spanning from 2009 to 2016. This discovery came after a police raid on October 31, 2017, when officers, having obtained intelligence from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), entered Gold’s home in Bracknell with a spare key. The raid revealed not only the images but also a laptop that contained the illicit material.

During the investigation, officers were only able to access 21 of the images because Gold had forgotten the password to the files, claiming he had not used the laptop for two years. However, detectives uncovered records of Skype conversations between Gold and an anonymous user, during which he received and possibly shared images of children. These exchanges included boasts about sharing material on ChatStep, a notorious alternative media platform known for hosting such content.

Gold’s defense lawyer, Kellie Enever, argued that her client had cooperated fully with police, volunteering for interviews and admitting guilt at the earliest opportunity. She also sought to counter the perception of Gold as a socially isolated individual, stating that he maintained close relationships with friends, regularly saw his ex-partner, and cared for his elderly parents and brother. Despite losing his teaching job after his initial conviction, Gold had begun teaching English online to adults, although this work was irregular and poorly paid, and he was living on benefits.

Furthermore, Ms. Enever highlighted that Gold had been attending psychotherapy sessions to address his issues related to child pornography. A statement from his doctor indicated that he was considered a low risk of re-offending, but she pointed out that funding cuts had prevented him from accessing more comprehensive rehabilitation programs. She explained that the cuts to probation services had deprived Gold of the opportunity to participate in offender management courses, which could have helped him address his underlying problems.

Gold’s previous sentence in 2011 involved 20 weeks in prison for one count of distributing and three counts of making indecent images, covering material from 2005 to 2009. His sentence was suspended for 18 months. In the recent case, Judge Grainger sentenced him to 14 months in prison for two counts of making indecent images, covering the period from March 2009 to December 2016. This sentence was suspended for two years on the condition that Gold completes an accredited rehabilitation program, such as Horizon.

The court also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict Gold’s future conduct. The judge warned that if Gold breaches the conditions of this order, the suspended sentences could be activated, and he could face immediate imprisonment. Overall, the case underscored the importance of adequate rehabilitation and the devastating impact of funding cuts on the ability to effectively manage and treat offenders involved in child exploitation crimes.