DURSLEY MAN PAUL HORSLEY CAUGHT WITH CHILD AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY IN GLOUCESTER

In a case that has shocked the community of Dursley, Paul Horsley, a 29-year-old resident of School Road, was found to be in possession of an extensive collection of illegal and highly disturbing pornography, including images and videos involving children and animals. The incident came to light after police received credible information indicating that a local computer user was accessing and downloading illicit material from his home.

On the morning of February 15, police officers executed a search warrant at Horsley's residence at approximately 7:30 am. During the raid, they discovered a significant amount of inappropriate content stored on his computers. Horsley himself acknowledged the presence of such material, which included a total of 1,626 images and 143 films of child pornography, as well as 553 images and 20 films depicting sexual acts involving animals. The details of these findings were presented at Stroud Magistrates’ Court, where Horsley faced multiple charges related to the possession of indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals.

Horsley's criminal record and background revealed a troubling history. It was disclosed that he had been subjected to abuse as a child and was introduced to pornography at the tender age of nine. His own downloading habits began at the age of 14, indicating a long-standing pattern of deviant behavior. The court heard that Horsley had admitted to making the illegal material, which included both images and videos, and had been involved in the creation of some of this content.

In total, Horsley faced 12 charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals. The prosecution also revealed that he had made a substantial number of these images and films, which further underscored the severity of his offenses. The case was scheduled for sentencing at Gloucester Crown Court on November 19.

In addition to the charges related to illegal pornography, Horsley was also convicted of possessing images of a person performing sexual acts with an animal. This particular category involved 553 images and 20 films, highlighting the disturbing nature of his collection.

Following his conviction, Horsley appeared before Gloucester Crown Court, where Judge Jamie Tabor QC considered the appropriate course of action. Recognizing the potential danger to society and the importance of addressing his underlying issues, the judge decided against immediate imprisonment. Instead, Horsley was sentenced to a three-year community order, which mandated that he complete the Thames Valley sex offender treatment program. Furthermore, the judge imposed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, restricting Horsley's residence to at least 300 meters away from any school. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

This case has once again raised concerns about the presence of such disturbing material within local communities and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and abuse.