JOHN MASTERS FROM NEWBURY AND SOUTHAMPTON JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
| Red Rose Database
Southampton Newbury Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has shocked the communities of Newbury and Southampton, John Masters, a former vicar with longstanding ties to the Berkshire town of Newbury, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing and creating indecent images of children. The 40-year-old, who served as the vicar at St John the Evangelist church in Newbury for a decade, was arrested following a police investigation into his possession of explicit material involving minors.
Last October, authorities executed a search at Masters' former residence in Yattendon, Berkshire, uncovering a disturbing collection of 483 images. These included some depicting children subjected to severe sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that Masters had downloaded these images from the internet, paying for them with a credit card, and then carefully stored them on floppy disks to avoid detection by others, including his own children. The discovery of such material has caused widespread concern and condemnation.
Masters, who is now residing in Southampton, faced a series of charges at Reading Crown Court. He admitted to four counts of possessing indecent images of children and four counts of making such images. During the hearing, it was revealed that he had been introduced to child pornography by a friend back in 1999. His method involved downloading images online and saving them discreetly to prevent accidental discovery.
In his testimony, Masters expressed confusion over why he kept the images, admitting that he derived some level of enjoyment from viewing them. His actions, he explained, were not driven by any specific intent but rather by curiosity and perhaps a sense of shame. The court heard that he had previously appeared before Newbury Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Throughout the proceedings, support letters from former parishioners and colleagues highlighted Masters' previous dedication and spiritual commitment. His defense attorney, Nick Syfret, described him as “a dedicated, spiritual man” who had been forced to resign from his position, lost his home, and seen his reputation irreparably damaged. Syfret suggested that Masters' behavior might stem from issues rooted in his upbringing and low self-esteem, asserting that he was assessed as a low risk but acknowledged some potential for future risk.
Judge Charles Elly, presiding over the case, took into account the numerous letters of support and emphasized the importance of public safety. He sentenced Masters to three years in total, with six months to be served in prison, the remainder suspended and on license. Additionally, Masters was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, and the court mandated the destruction of the confiscated pornography. The judge also emphasized the need for Masters to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program, aiming to prevent any future offenses and protect the community from harm.
Last October, authorities executed a search at Masters' former residence in Yattendon, Berkshire, uncovering a disturbing collection of 483 images. These included some depicting children subjected to severe sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that Masters had downloaded these images from the internet, paying for them with a credit card, and then carefully stored them on floppy disks to avoid detection by others, including his own children. The discovery of such material has caused widespread concern and condemnation.
Masters, who is now residing in Southampton, faced a series of charges at Reading Crown Court. He admitted to four counts of possessing indecent images of children and four counts of making such images. During the hearing, it was revealed that he had been introduced to child pornography by a friend back in 1999. His method involved downloading images online and saving them discreetly to prevent accidental discovery.
In his testimony, Masters expressed confusion over why he kept the images, admitting that he derived some level of enjoyment from viewing them. His actions, he explained, were not driven by any specific intent but rather by curiosity and perhaps a sense of shame. The court heard that he had previously appeared before Newbury Magistrates Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
Throughout the proceedings, support letters from former parishioners and colleagues highlighted Masters' previous dedication and spiritual commitment. His defense attorney, Nick Syfret, described him as “a dedicated, spiritual man” who had been forced to resign from his position, lost his home, and seen his reputation irreparably damaged. Syfret suggested that Masters' behavior might stem from issues rooted in his upbringing and low self-esteem, asserting that he was assessed as a low risk but acknowledged some potential for future risk.
Judge Charles Elly, presiding over the case, took into account the numerous letters of support and emphasized the importance of public safety. He sentenced Masters to three years in total, with six months to be served in prison, the remainder suspended and on license. Additionally, Masters was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, and the court mandated the destruction of the confiscated pornography. The judge also emphasized the need for Masters to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program, aiming to prevent any future offenses and protect the community from harm.