JONATHAN COULSON FROM ULEY AND PORTISHEAD ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE THOUSANDS OF CHILD PORN IMAGES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Uley and Portishead, Jonathan Coulson, a 58-year-old man with a troubling history, was found to possess an extensive collection of indecent images of children, yet he was spared immediate imprisonment. Coulson, who resides on The Street in Uley, appeared before Gloucester Crown Court to face serious charges related to child exploitation.

According to court records, police officers executed a search at Coulson's residence in June, seizing both a laptop and an external hard drive. The investigation revealed a disturbing cache of digital material: while the laptop contained 132 indecent images of children, the external hard drive held over 5,000 images and videos. These were categorized into various levels of severity, with 3,394 images at the lowest level, and 60 at the most serious, indicating the disturbing nature of some of the content.

During initial police interviews, Coulson claimed that the devices would only reveal adult pornography and naturist images, denying any involvement with child exploitation material. However, he later admitted to downloading such content, expressing shame and acknowledging that he had developed an interest in this type of material over the past two years.

Prosecutor Mary Harley detailed Coulson's criminal history, recalling that in 1989, he had received a 12-month jail sentence for sexual offenses committed against a five-year-old girl over a four-month period. She emphasized the gravity of the current charges, which included 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children, some of which fell into the most serious categories.

Defending Coulson, solicitor Ian Kelcey highlighted that Coulson had previously sought help for his deviant behavior even before being formally charged. He also pointed out that Coulson's employer was aware of his past offenses and was willing to retain him in his current role, which involves no contact with children. Kelcey appealed to the court for leniency, citing Coulson's responsibilities towards his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and the risk of losing his job if imprisoned.

Judge Jamie Tabor deferred sentencing until April 13, 2012, ordering Coulson to attend weekly therapy sessions. The judge expressed hope that these sessions would lead Coulson to acknowledge the severity of his actions and his underlying issues. Additionally, Coulson was placed under probation supervision and was subject to a sex offender prevention order.

Neighbours of Coulson, who had known him as a quiet and unassuming man, reported that he had recently moved to Portishead. The case continues to raise concerns about the safety and monitoring of individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially those involved in the possession of such disturbing material.