'DANGEROUS' SHROPSHIRE PAEDOPHILE LOCKED UP FOR 21 YEARS AFTER HISTORICAL ABUSE UNEARTHED AFTER STING BY ONLINE VIGILANTES
A 58-year-old Shrewsbury man has been locked up for more than 20 years after historical sex offences came to light following a sting by paedophile hunters who had been posing as a 12-year-old girl.Mason was confronted at his then home in Ellesmere on November 1, 2020, by the vigilante group Seek and Expose.
Mason was arrested by police after the group provided evidence that he had been sending sexually explicit images, messages, and videos to a decoy named "Emily," whom Mason believed to be just 12.
Police found a laptop and mobile phone with messages to "Emily" and web search history indicating a clear interest in sexual activity with young girls.
Mason admitted three charges: attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
Before Mason could be dealt with in court, and following the posting online of a video of his confrontation with the vigilante group, two separate victims came forward accusing him of historical sexual abuse.
