In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that 52-year-old Matthew Gould was handed a community order after being caught with thousands of indecent images of children and extreme animal pornography. Following an investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police, the defendant—of Higher Chapel Street, Looe, Cornwall—was found in possession of nearly 3,000 child abuse images on his electronic devices. It was reported that the collection included Category A files, representing the most serious images showing child rape and sexual torture.
The investigation established that Gould’s devices also contained extreme pornographic material. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that upon inspecting his phone and computer, officers uncovered images depicting a person engaging in oral sexual activity with a live horse. The prosecution reported that Gould admitted to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images involving sexual interference with an animal when he appeared before the magistrates’ court.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Gould’s digital activity involved the consumption of highly illegal and disturbing content over a prolonged period. Bodmin Magistrates’ Court heard that the police raid in Looe uncovered a vast digital library of abuse that spanned all three categories of seriousness. The investigation established that the extreme pornography involving a horse was a separate and distinct offence that further highlighted the defendant’s deviant interests.
For his actions in Looe and the surrounding Cornwall area, Gould was sentenced to a community order rather than an immediate custodial term. The judge noted that the sentence includes 150 hours of unpaid work and five days of mandatory rehabilitation activity to address his behaviour. Gould was also placed under strict internet access restrictions to prevent him from returning to the dark corners of the web where such material is distributed.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Matthew Gould as of April 1, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: Community Order (Sentenced 2026).
- Community Requirements: 150 hours of unpaid work and 5 rehabilitation activity days.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for 5 years.
- Internet Restrictions: Enforced digital monitoring and access limits.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the magistrates’ court following a Devon and Cornwall Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Making indecent photographs of a child (Categories A, B, and C); Possession of extreme pornography (Animal).
- Origin: Higher Chapel Street, Looe, Cornwall.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Gould is managed as a registered sex offender within the Cornwall area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the possession of child rape imagery and extreme animal pornography, his management is a priority for the Devon and Cornwall Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his five-year period on the Sex Offenders Register and his internet restrictions are essential for monitoring his digital footprint and ensuring he does not re-offend.
As a registered sex offender until 2031, Gould’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his history of accessing the most serious category of child abuse images indicates a high level of risk. Any failure to comply with his 150 hours of unpaid work, any attempt to bypass his internet filters, or any further discovery of illegal material in Looe or elsewhere in Cornwall will result in immediate arrest and the potential for a custodial sentence to be imposed.
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