EDINBURGH MAN GORDON WATERSSON FROM WOKINGHAM AND EDINBURGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES

In April 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Gordon Waterson, a music teacher with ties to both Wokingham and Edinburgh, who was convicted of possessing and distributing a vast collection of child sexual abuse images. Waterson, who now resides on Clinton Road in Edinburgh, had previously worked at Ludgrove School in Wokingham, a prestigious independent boarding school for boys aged 8 to 13, where parents pay nearly £10,000 per term for their children's education.

Despite his employment being suspended in July 2020, the extent of his illicit activities had already come to light. It was revealed that Waterson had been downloading indecent images since 2015, with a particular focus on young boys aged between two and ten years old. His actions involved not only viewing these images but also actively engaging with other online predators, discussing and sharing material related to child abuse and rape.

Authorities acted swiftly after linking his email address and phone number to the illegal content. Police raided Ludgrove School, where Waterson was employed, and arrested him on-site. During the investigation, officers discovered that Waterson had stored over 10,000 images across four iPhones, including 1,880 classified as Category A, the most severe type depicting rape and torture of young boys. Further analysis of his devices uncovered an astonishing 360,000 images, although due to resource constraints, not all could be examined.

Waterson, a native of Scotland, had been employed at Ludgrove since at least 2019, with records indicating his involvement in activities such as a ski trip with pupils that same year. In the months leading up to his arrest, he also volunteered to assist Wokingham Borough Council’s COVID-19 response team, delivering prescriptions within the community, highlighting a stark contrast between his public service and private misconduct.

Prosecutor Kirsty Day detailed that Waterson used platforms like Dropbox, Skype, Tumblr, and Kik to store and share illicit images. An analysis of his devices revealed that he had sent indecent images via Kik in December 2015, actively seeking to join chat groups where other offenders discussed child pornography. The images he possessed included victims as young as two years old, many of whom had been subjected to sexual abuse by adults, as presented in court.

Following his arrest and subsequent release on bail, Waterson attempted to rebuild his life by working in a supermarket, establishing a voiceover business, and obtaining an HGV driving license. Despite these efforts, his criminal activities cast a long shadow over his future.

In sentencing, Her Honour Judge Nott acknowledged the severity of Waterson’s actions but ultimately decided to spare him from immediate imprisonment, citing the potential for rehabilitation. The judge criticized Waterson for actively participating in online groups with other like-minded individuals, emphasizing the volume of illegal material found on his devices. She stated, “You must have been using every spare hour to access and discuss these sexual images.”

Waterson was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work along with participation in rehabilitation programs. He was convicted on three counts of making indecent images and three counts of distributing such images at Reading Crown Court on Friday, April 22, highlighting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing concern over child exploitation.