ANTHONY MASTERTON FROM CHAFFORD HUNDRED ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE IN BASILDON

In a case that has shocked the local community of Chafford Hundred, Anthony Masterton, a 51-year-old resident of Caravel Close, was found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The incident came to light in September 2016, when authorities uncovered that Masterton had amassed a significant collection of illicit material involving minors.

Masterton was charged with and admitted to making more than 60 indecent images and videos depicting children. The court proceedings revealed that he had produced a total of 61 such images and movies, which were categorized based on their severity. Among these, 20 were classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of abuse, while 29 fell into Category B, and 12 were deemed to be of the least serious Category C. The investigation also uncovered that he possessed one prohibited image and an extreme pornographic depiction that explicitly and realistically portrayed acts likely to cause serious injury.

On Monday morning at Basildon Crown Court, Masterton was handed a sentence that, while serious, did not include imprisonment. Instead, he received a two-year community service order. This decision followed his guilty plea entered on July 18 at Basildon Magistrates Court, where he admitted to the charges.

Prosecutor Kresner highlighted that Masterton was considered to have a “previous good character,” which influenced the court’s decision to opt for a community-based sentence rather than incarceration. The court also ordered Masterton to pay court costs amounting to £150 and a victim surcharge of £60. Additionally, the judge mandated a 60-day period of rehabilitation and placed him on the Sexual Offenders’ Register for five years.

During the sentencing, Judge Samantha Leigh addressed Masterton directly, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. She stated, “You understand that even if you have not engaged in sexual activity with a child, a video of a little child being abused somewhere has been made and that child will know it’s available for the rest of their lives. It isn’t alright to just watch the abuse of children.”

While acknowledging that the number of images was relatively low compared to typical cases, the judge underscored the seriousness of the offense. Masterton was also subjected to a supervision requirement, which involves regular meetings with a responsible officer to monitor his conduct and ensure compliance with the court’s orders.