WARMINSTER PAEDOPHILE SIMON MASTERS SPARED JAIL AFTER DISTURBING DISCOVERY

In November 2019, a disturbing case unfolded in Warminster involving Simon Masters, a man whose actions prompted serious concern from the judicial system. Masters, a 33-year-old former bus driver residing in The Teasels area of Warminster, was found in possession of highly disturbing material related to child exploitation.

He was caught with a sickening paedophile manual, which he himself acknowledged he could not unsee, as well as indecent images and extreme pornography. The case was brought before Swindon Crown Court, where Judge Jason Taylor QC presided over the proceedings.

During the hearing, it was revealed that police had identified Masters’ IP address while monitoring online file-sharing platforms frequently used by individuals involved in illegal activities of this nature. This led to a raid on his residence in April of the previous year, during which authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including computers and hard drives.

Masters did not deny his involvement, telling officers at the scene, “Whatever you find it’s down to me and I’ve downloaded it.” An examination of his devices uncovered more than 400 indecent images of children, with 157 classified as the most serious category. Additionally, investigators found 242 extreme pornographic images and a four-minute video titled “Pre-teen toy story,” which was described as highly disturbing.

One of the most alarming discoveries was a paedophile manual, characterized by prosecutors as a step-by-step guide to abusing young children, ranging from infants to slightly older children. The videos recovered from Masters’ devices totaled over 100 hours of footage, and there was evidence indicating that he had actively searched for terms commonly associated with paedophilic interests online.

Judge Taylor expressed deep concern over the case, noting that a probation officer had assessed Masters as posing a high risk to children. Despite the severity of the findings, the judge chose to impose a sentence that included a measure of mercy. Instead of immediate imprisonment, Masters was given a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years, contingent upon his completion of a specialized treatment course aimed at preventing future offending.

He was also ordered to undertake 250 hours of unpaid community service and to register as a sex offender for a decade. The judge emphasized that if Masters re-offended, he would face imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his actions.

Judge Taylor concluded by stating, “This has been an act of mercy and it will be the last,” highlighting the gravity of the case and the importance of intervention and treatment in such circumstances.