RICHARD WATSON FROM TIDWORTH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL

In April 2010, a soldier with a seemingly impeccable military record narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of over 1,000 child pornography images, some of which were classified at the most severe levels of depravity.

Colour Sergeant Richard Watson, aged 39 and serving with the 3rd Battalion Mercian Regiment, was dismissed from the British Army following his guilty plea to charges of distributing, creating, and possessing indecent images of children. The case drew significant attention due to the stark contrast between his prior service achievements and the serious nature of his crimes.

Authorities initiated their investigation after seizing computers from individuals in Surrey and Portsmouth. These devices contained logs of online conversations in chatrooms, where Watson engaged with other men, exchanging and sharing the illicit images. The police traced these communications back to Watson, leading to his arrest in July 2008.

Prosecutor Philip Warren outlined at Salisbury Crown Court that the images were discovered on an outdated computer that Watson had given to his former father-in-law, as well as on a memory card from a gaming console found in his room at Mooltan Barracks in Tidworth. Among the images, seven were classified at the most severe level five, depicting acts of bestiality and sadomasochism, while over 200 images were rated at level four, indicating extreme depravity.

Initially, Watson pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial at Winchester Crown Court in February. His defense revealed that Watson had endured a traumatic childhood, subjected to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse by his mother and stepfather, who reportedly confined him to a chicken coop for extended periods.

Having joined the Army at age 15, Watson had completed numerous tours of duty, earning eight medals and was on track to become Sergeant Major by November 2008. However, his military career was abruptly halted following his arrest, costing him a substantial pension and a lump sum estimated between £50,000 and £60,000. His pension, valued at £720 per month, was also delayed until he reached the age of 60.

During sentencing, Judge Andrew Barnett described the images as 'disgusting and degrading,' emphasizing the shame that Watson should feel. The judge acknowledged Watson’s remorse and the fact that he did not distribute the most severe images, stating that society would benefit from a rehabilitative approach rather than immediate imprisonment.

As part of his sentence, Watson was given a three-year community order with supervision and mandated to participate in a sexual offenders group work program. Additionally, he will be subject to a seven-year sexual offences prevention order and must register as a sex offender for three years. The judge underscored the gravity of Watson’s actions but also highlighted the importance of addressing his underlying issues to prevent future offenses.