PAUL DOLAN LITHERLAND CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENDER SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL

In a case that has shocked the community of Litherland and the wider Liverpool area, Paul Dolan, a 58-year-old man from Litherland, was brought before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, March 14, facing serious allegations related to the possession and distribution of child abuse images. The court heard that Dolan had downloaded nearly 7,000 indecent images of children, a revelation that has profoundly impacted his personal and social life.

According to court records, police executed a search warrant at Dolan’s residence on Lander Road in September 2012. During the raid, authorities discovered a significant collection of illicit images stored on his laptop. The investigation revealed that Dolan had employed various search terms such as ‘school girls’ and ‘young teens’ to locate these images. Additionally, chat logs obtained from his online activity included disturbing references, with Dolan using the phrase ‘dad perv’ and engaging in a graphic sexual conversation while pretending to be a 15-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Derek Jones outlined that Dolan’s collection included not only photographs but also 53 sexual cartoons and extreme pornographic material, including images depicting bestiality. The court was informed that Dolan had admitted to downloading these images, acknowledging his involvement in the possession of such material.

During the hearing, Dolan appeared in court carrying a bag, seemingly expecting to face a custodial sentence. However, Judge Andrew Hatton sentenced him to 12 months in prison, a sentence that was suspended for two years. The judge also mandated that Dolan attend a challenging sex offenders’ treatment course run by Northumbria and placed him under supervision for a period of two years. Furthermore, Dolan was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his use of the internet.

In his remarks, Judge Hatton expressed his condemnation of the actions that led to the case, stating, “Sadly, in various places around the world, children have to suffer appalling indignities before cameras to feed the imagination of people like you who are prepared to sit at home and watch scenes of children being abused.” The judge emphasized the importance of considering the suffering of the victims, contrasting it with Dolan’s own circumstances.

Defence lawyer Robert McMaster highlighted that Dolan had no previous convictions and explained that he was taking strong medication for severe stabbing pains, which he claimed had a disinhibiting effect on his behavior. McMaster added that Dolan was now at “rock bottom,” indicating a recognition of the gravity of his actions and their consequences.