PAUL GORETTI BISHOPTON CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENDER ESCAPES JAIL
| Red Rose Database
Bishopton Rapist
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Bishopton, Paul Goretti, a 50-year-old man, was found to have been hoarding and viewing a vast collection of child abuse images for nearly two decades. The disturbing material was stored on two hard drives hidden in his loft at his residence on Brisbane Road. These files included some of the most extreme images depicting the rape and torture of young girls aged between three and 13. Goretti’s prolonged possession of these images meant that by the time police intervened, the youngest children depicted would have been adults, highlighting the extent and duration of his illicit activity.
Goretti’s criminal behavior came to light after police executed a search warrant at his home on March 21, following reports that prompted an investigation. During the search, officers recovered three hard disks from his loft, which forensic analysis later confirmed contained a total of 46 indecent images and videos of minors. Among these, one video was classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, with additional images falling into Category B and C classifications. The police investigation revealed that Goretti had been downloading these illegal materials while intoxicated, claiming he was simply browsing adult websites and inadvertently clicked through to the child abuse content.
During his arrest, Goretti admitted to the police that he had been viewing the images while under the influence of alcohol and expressed feelings of shame and disgust about his actions. He insisted that his partner was unaware of his activities. His defense argued that Goretti’s interest in pornography was the motive behind his actions, which he claimed started with adult material before unintentionally accessing illegal content. Goretti pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and permitting the possession of indecent images of children, with the offenses spanning from June 1999 to March 2017 at his Bishopton address.
At Paisley Sheriff Court, the court heard that Goretti’s actions constituted serious criminal behavior. The prosecution highlighted the disturbing nature of the images and the long period over which he had maintained this illicit collection. Despite the gravity of the charges, Sheriff James Spy decided not to impose immediate imprisonment. Instead, he deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of background reports. Goretti was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years, and the court ordered that he be supervised by social workers for a period of three years. Additionally, he was sentenced to complete 240 hours of unpaid community service and attend specialized courses aimed at addressing sexual offending behaviors.
Goretti’s case also resulted in him being classified as unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups, and he will be subject to ongoing monitoring. He is scheduled to return to court in June for a progress review, and his case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in child exploitation crimes. The community of Bishopton continues to grapple with the implications of such disturbing revelations, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and law enforcement efforts to combat child abuse in all its forms.
Goretti’s criminal behavior came to light after police executed a search warrant at his home on March 21, following reports that prompted an investigation. During the search, officers recovered three hard disks from his loft, which forensic analysis later confirmed contained a total of 46 indecent images and videos of minors. Among these, one video was classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of abuse, with additional images falling into Category B and C classifications. The police investigation revealed that Goretti had been downloading these illegal materials while intoxicated, claiming he was simply browsing adult websites and inadvertently clicked through to the child abuse content.
During his arrest, Goretti admitted to the police that he had been viewing the images while under the influence of alcohol and expressed feelings of shame and disgust about his actions. He insisted that his partner was unaware of his activities. His defense argued that Goretti’s interest in pornography was the motive behind his actions, which he claimed started with adult material before unintentionally accessing illegal content. Goretti pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and permitting the possession of indecent images of children, with the offenses spanning from June 1999 to March 2017 at his Bishopton address.
At Paisley Sheriff Court, the court heard that Goretti’s actions constituted serious criminal behavior. The prosecution highlighted the disturbing nature of the images and the long period over which he had maintained this illicit collection. Despite the gravity of the charges, Sheriff James Spy decided not to impose immediate imprisonment. Instead, he deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of background reports. Goretti was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for three years, and the court ordered that he be supervised by social workers for a period of three years. Additionally, he was sentenced to complete 240 hours of unpaid community service and attend specialized courses aimed at addressing sexual offending behaviors.
Goretti’s case also resulted in him being classified as unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups, and he will be subject to ongoing monitoring. He is scheduled to return to court in June for a progress review, and his case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in child exploitation crimes. The community of Bishopton continues to grapple with the implications of such disturbing revelations, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and law enforcement efforts to combat child abuse in all its forms.