JEREMY MASON OF HELENSBURGH CAUGHT WITH 17,000 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SCANDAL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Helensburgh, Jeremy Mason, a 51-year-old resident of East King Street, was found in possession of an alarming collection of indecent images of children. The discovery was made during a police raid on his flat in September 2018, following intelligence reports indicating that Mason was downloading and storing such material. The authorities uncovered a staggering total of 17,000 images, which had been accumulated over a period of three years, with some of the photographs depicting children as young as five years old.

These images were located across three of six devices seized from Mason’s residence, which is situated next to a local authority youth centre in Helensburgh. The police, acting on the information, forced entry into Mason’s flat on September 7, 2018, around 9 a.m., as the property was unoccupied at the time. An initial examination of the devices revealed disturbing content, categorized as Category C images, showing female children aged between five and fifteen in sexually explicit poses. The images were stored within various folders, some with suggestive names, indicating deliberate organization by Mason.

Later that day, Mason returned to his flat at approximately 5:30 p.m., was promptly arrested, and taken to Clydebank Police Station for questioning. During the interview, Mason chose to remain silent, offering no comment in response to questions about the images found on his devices. The police confirmed that the images were of a highly concerning nature, and the case was scheduled for further court proceedings.

In June 2019, Mason appeared before Dumbarton Sheriff Court to admit possession of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, covering the period from September 2017 to September 2018. The court was informed that Mason had no previous convictions, and he pleaded guilty to the charges. The case was adjourned to allow for social work reports to be prepared, with sentencing deferred until July 26, 2019.

When Mason appeared in court on the scheduled date, he was dressed in a blazer and tie, and Sheriff William Gallacher addressed him directly. The sheriff expressed grave concern over Mason’s deliberate and calculated actions, emphasizing the long-lasting harm caused to the children depicted in the images. Sheriff Gallacher stated, “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.”

Recognizing the extensive nature of Mason’s actions, the sheriff considered whether imprisonment was appropriate. However, given Mason’s lack of prior convictions and his guilty plea, Sheriff Gallacher decided that a custodial sentence could be avoided. Instead, Mason was sentenced to a community payback order (CPO) that will see him supervised by social workers for three years. He is also prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under 16 without prior approval from his supervising officer. Mason is required to make available any internet-enabled device for inspection and was warned not to delete his browsing history.

Furthermore, Mason must complete 300 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, the maximum permissible under law. The sheriff emphasized that failure to comply with these conditions would result in a prison sentence. Mason was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions.

This case has once again highlighted the serious issue of child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable children. The community of Helensburgh remains deeply concerned about the implications of such behavior and the ongoing efforts to prevent similar crimes in the future.