DARTMOUTH VAN DRIVER ADAM GOULDEN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND BESTIALITY

In June 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Adam Goulden, a 37-year-old delivery driver from Dartmouth, who committed heinous acts of child abuse and bestiality. The case came to light after Goulden was found to have recorded himself sexually abusing a two-year-old girl, whom he gained access to through her innocent mother. Instead of taking the child out for trips as he had initially offered, Goulden subjected her to abuse inside his delivery van, a crime that shocked the local community and prompted a serious legal response.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Goulden had actively recorded the abuse, and police investigations uncovered videos stored on his phone and computer. These videos depicted the young girl, who was only two years old, being sexually assaulted while she was naked from the waist down. The footage showed Goulden attempting to reassure her by talking about her mother, which added a disturbing layer to the crime. The abuse lasted approximately 20 minutes, and the court heard that Goulden had used manipulative tactics to exploit the child's trust.

Further evidence found on Goulden’s devices included images and videos of him engaging in sex acts with a dog, as well as numerous indecent images of children. Police also discovered that Goulden possessed 207 images depicting bestiality, some of which showed him participating in sexual acts with animals. The investigation revealed that Goulden had downloaded many of these images from the internet, indicating a pre-existing interest in such material.

Authorities found additional incriminating evidence, including a bag in Goulden’s vehicle containing cable ties and electrical tape, which suggested preparations for further abuse or restraint. The police also uncovered messages on his phone in which Goulden boasted about his abuse to another paedophile, further demonstrating his predatory behavior and lack of remorse.

Goulden was charged with multiple serious offenses, including sexual assault on a child, making and possessing indecent images of children, possession of extreme images, and two counts of possession of cannabis. On August 14, 2019, police executed a search and found the videos and images, which confirmed his guilt.

In court, Mary McCarthy, prosecuting, detailed the extent of Goulden’s crimes, emphasizing the severity of the abuse and the disturbing nature of the images. The court was told that Goulden’s actions posed a significant risk to children and that his behavior was driven by an abnormal sexual appetite, compounded by his use of ketamine at the time of the offenses.

Judge Peter Johnson, presiding over the case at Exeter Crown Court, described Goulden as a dangerous offender and sentenced him to four years and four months in prison. The judge also certified him as a dangerous individual, which led to Goulden being placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. The judge expressed grave concern about Goulden’s willingness to act out his fantasies and his preoccupation with sex, which he said posed a serious threat to children’s safety and well-being.

Goulden’s defense attempted to shift blame onto work colleagues, claiming they had accessed his phone while he was at the delivery depot. However, the court found the evidence against him compelling, and his actions were met with the full weight of the law, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need to protect the community from such dangerous individuals.