December 2020 Voyeur found in possession of nearly 20,000 indecent images of children A Voyeur found in possession of almost 20,000 indecent images of children has been put behind bars. David Masters admitted secretly filming a young girl after he was caught with a disturbing haul of photos he had downloaded online. His alarming behaviour had come to the attention of officers from Northumbria Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) when they received intelligence that indecent images of children had been uploaded from his home address. A specialist team visited the 43-year-old and seized a range of his electronic devices, uncovering a total of 17,690 indecent images – with more than 500 of those fitting in to the most serious category – Category A. Officers also uncovered a video of a young girl shot on his phone. Detectives were able to trace the little girl and a victim impact statement read out in court by her mother said she was “extremely shocked” when police got in touch. The statement read: “I felt sick to think anyone record such a despicable video. “The pain and hurt of seeing those images and understanding their context is something I will never forget. “She’s a beautiful, little innocent girl and doesn’t deserve to be taken advantage of in this awful way.” Masters, of Moorfield Gardens, Cleadon, was subsequently arrested and charged with voyeurism, taking indecent photographs of a child under the age of 18, three counts of making an indecent image of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image – relating to animals. He previously appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where pleaded guilty to all charges. He was jailed for 46 months, given a lifetime sexual harm prevention order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.