August 2019 Helensburgh man spared jail over 17,000 child abuse images A HELENSBURGH pervert who was found in possession of thousands of sickening indecent images of children has been spared a prison sentence. Jeremy Mason’s stash of 17,000 images, amassed over a period of three years, was discovered when police raided his home in the town last September. Some of the images featured children as young as five years of age. The 51-year-old, who has no previous convictions, appeared for sentencing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday, July 26 after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge of being in possession of the indecent images at his flat in East King Street between September 7, 2015 and the same date three years later. Sentence had been deferred for social work reports following Mason’s previous appearance in court in June. Mason, who appeared in the dock wearing a blazer and tie, was told by Sheriff Gallacher: “You have, very deliberately and with some skill, set about seeking to access this material. “This is not neutral. This is behaviour which has a considerable and long-standing impact on a great number of people. “Many are very young and will have their lives affected, long beyond their childhood, by the actions of people who seek to access this material, and who do so deliberately. “Your behaviour has been very extensive. Because of the very significant quantity of material you amassed, I considered whether I had any option other than to send you to prison. “Were I to do that, because of your lack of previous convictions and your plea of guilty, any such period of imprisonment would be limited. “It may be that the community benefits more by my imposing on you a community payback order [CPO]. “On those circumstances alone, and in view of your willingness to engage, I am persuaded that I can avoid a custodial sentence.” Mason’s CPO will see him supervised by social workers for three years; he will also be banned from having any unsupervised contact with any person aged under 16 without the permission of his supervising officer. He will also be required to make available any internet-enabled device for inspection, and was told not to delete his online browsing history In addition he was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work – the maximum available under the law – within 12 months. “I am persuaded not to send you to prison,” Sheriff Gallacher added, “but I am not persuaded to moderate the penalty at all. “If you fail to comply, I will send you to prison.” Mason was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years. June 2019 Helensburgh pervert caught with 17,000 sickening images of children A pervert who lives next door to a youth centre was caught with 17,000 sickening images of children. Vile Jeremy Mason was found with thousands of indecent images on three devices when police searched his home in September last year. The 51-year-old was caught with the stash of images, featuring children as young as five. after cybercrime officers received intelligence of indecent images being downloaded at his address –which is located next to a council youth centre. Mason, of East King Street in Helensburgh, was in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week where he admitted having indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children in his posession between September 2017 and September 2018. The court heard how police forced entry into Mason’s flat to search devices on September 7 last year. The 17,000 images were found on three of six devices seized. Depute fiscal Kevin Doherty said: “That property is a second floor flat in Helensburgh town centre next door to a local authority children’s unit. The sole occupant is the accused. “Police attended at the address in the morning around 9am. The flat was unoccupied and officers forced entry. “They carried out the search and officers found six devices capable of accessing the internet. An initial search of the devices revealed images of concern, namely child sexual exploitation images. “Three of the devices were found to have a significant number of indecent images of children on them. “The total number of images was 17,000. All of the images were of category C level. “The category C images showed female children between the ages of five and 15 posing erotically. “These were found within various folder on the devices under certain names.” Mason returned to the flat later that day at around 5.30pm. He was arrested and taken to Clydebank Police Office. Mr Doherty continued: “He was interviewd in connection with the discovery of the images on these devices. “He replied no comment to all questions put to him.” Speaking to Mason in the dock, Sheriff William Gallacher warned him of the consequences of downloading indecent images. He said: “The children involved in these images were subject to abuse. By looking at theses images, you are creating the problem that causes this abuse.” The case was adjourned until July 26 for social work reports to be obtained.