JASON WEST FROM PAMBER HEATH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEX IMAGE SCANDAL IN READING
| Red Rose Database
Pamber Heath Sexual Abuser
In a recent court hearing held at Reading Crown Court, Jason John West, a 39-year-old resident of Church Road in Pamber Heath, was involved in a highly disturbing case involving child exploitation and possession of indecent images. Despite the severity of the evidence against him, West was not sentenced to immediate imprisonment but was instead given a suspended jail term, raising questions about the justice process in such serious cases.
According to court records, police executed a search warrant at West’s residence in August 2012, during which they confiscated his computer. Subsequent analysis revealed that the device contained a staggering total of 2,315 images depicting children, primarily aged between three and thirteen years old. Among these images, eleven were classified as Level Five, the most severe and disturbing category, indicating extreme exploitation and abuse. The court was informed that West had actively searched for terms such as “six-year-old nude girls” using his computer’s search engine, highlighting the disturbing nature of his online activity.
During the proceedings, West admitted to one charge of making indecent photographs of children. The court also reviewed his criminal history, which includes previous convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Notably, in 1999, West was convicted of having sex with a girl under the age of 13 and was placed under a two-year supervision order. A year later, he received a 12-month jail sentence for three counts of indecent assault on a female under 16. His criminal record further includes a 2004 conviction for inciting a female under 16 to engage in sexual activity, for which he was sentenced to three years of community rehabilitation.
During the sentencing hearing, West’s legal representative, Russell Pyne, emphasized his client’s early admission of guilt and highlighted his struggles with depression and financial difficulties. Pyne also pointed out that West has been employed continuously for over a decade since moving into the area and argued that his ongoing employment benefits society. Furthermore, Pyne noted that West had previously participated in a sex offenders’ treatment program, which he found helpful, and suggested that continuing with such a program would be more beneficial than imprisonment.
Judge Zoe Smith expressed concern over the fact that, although West had found the previous treatment program helpful, it did not prevent him from re-offending. She questioned whether the current intervention would be more effective. The court was informed by probation officers that West was deemed suitable for an intensive, two-year sex offenders’ treatment program. In light of these considerations, Judge Smith decided to suspend West’s prison sentence, sentencing him to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, to allow him to participate in the treatment program. Additionally, West was placed under a two-year supervision order and ordered to pay costs amounting to £670. The court also ordered that West’s computer hard drive be destroyed to prevent further misuse of digital material.
Overall, the case highlights ongoing concerns about the handling of serious sexual offenses involving minors, and the decision to suspend the jail term has sparked debate about the adequacy of current sentencing practices for offenders involved in child exploitation.
According to court records, police executed a search warrant at West’s residence in August 2012, during which they confiscated his computer. Subsequent analysis revealed that the device contained a staggering total of 2,315 images depicting children, primarily aged between three and thirteen years old. Among these images, eleven were classified as Level Five, the most severe and disturbing category, indicating extreme exploitation and abuse. The court was informed that West had actively searched for terms such as “six-year-old nude girls” using his computer’s search engine, highlighting the disturbing nature of his online activity.
During the proceedings, West admitted to one charge of making indecent photographs of children. The court also reviewed his criminal history, which includes previous convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Notably, in 1999, West was convicted of having sex with a girl under the age of 13 and was placed under a two-year supervision order. A year later, he received a 12-month jail sentence for three counts of indecent assault on a female under 16. His criminal record further includes a 2004 conviction for inciting a female under 16 to engage in sexual activity, for which he was sentenced to three years of community rehabilitation.
During the sentencing hearing, West’s legal representative, Russell Pyne, emphasized his client’s early admission of guilt and highlighted his struggles with depression and financial difficulties. Pyne also pointed out that West has been employed continuously for over a decade since moving into the area and argued that his ongoing employment benefits society. Furthermore, Pyne noted that West had previously participated in a sex offenders’ treatment program, which he found helpful, and suggested that continuing with such a program would be more beneficial than imprisonment.
Judge Zoe Smith expressed concern over the fact that, although West had found the previous treatment program helpful, it did not prevent him from re-offending. She questioned whether the current intervention would be more effective. The court was informed by probation officers that West was deemed suitable for an intensive, two-year sex offenders’ treatment program. In light of these considerations, Judge Smith decided to suspend West’s prison sentence, sentencing him to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, to allow him to participate in the treatment program. Additionally, West was placed under a two-year supervision order and ordered to pay costs amounting to £670. The court also ordered that West’s computer hard drive be destroyed to prevent further misuse of digital material.
Overall, the case highlights ongoing concerns about the handling of serious sexual offenses involving minors, and the decision to suspend the jail term has sparked debate about the adequacy of current sentencing practices for offenders involved in child exploitation.