SIMON LISTER FROM TRURO CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Truro, Simon Lister, a 21-year-old resident of Wentworth, Scarsewater Vean, was found to possess an extensive collection of child pornography. The investigation was triggered when a customs officer based in Coventry intercepted a parcel from the United States, sent by a company called ENature. Upon opening the package, the officer discovered two videos depicting naked children, which immediately raised suspicions and prompted further inquiries.

Following this initial discovery, authorities launched a comprehensive investigation that uncovered a staggering total of 22,057 images of a paedophile nature stored on a computer owned by Lister at his home near Truro. The authorities also found additional illicit material on various CDs, CD-ROMs, and floppy disks, indicating a significant and deliberate collection of such material.

Details of the case were presented at Truro Crown Court, where Lister faced serious charges. He had earlier pleaded guilty to 15 counts of making indecent photographs of children. During the proceedings, the court heard from his father, Michael Lister, who is the deputy head of Camborne-Pool-Redruth College. Michael Lister provided insight into his son's mental health, revealing that Simon had suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome since the age of 12. This context appeared to influence the court's decision regarding the severity of the sentence.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC, acknowledging the gravity of the offense, described the images as among the most revolting and depraved he had encountered in recent months. Typically, courts impose custodial sentences in such cases to serve as a deterrent, even for individuals of previously good character. However, after considering the circumstances and the testimony from Lister's father, the judge decided to take an exceptional course of action. Instead of immediate imprisonment, he imposed a three-year community rehabilitation order, emphasizing the importance of treatment and monitoring.

Prosecutor Tony Randall explained that the police had acted swiftly after intercepting the parcel from the USA, which led to the discovery of the vast collection of illicit images. During the search of Lister's bedroom, he made a revealing comment: “There will be stuff on the PC that I should not have,” indicating awareness of the illegal content.

Further analysis revealed that more than 1,000 of the images depicted the most severe category of child sexual abuse. Lister admitted to paying $245 for what he believed were naturist videos, although the content was clearly far more disturbing. In light of his guilty plea and cooperation, Lister was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next five years, a measure aimed at safeguarding the community and preventing future offenses.