SIMON KING FROM OSWESTRY AND WEST FELTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEX IMAGE OFFENSES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Oswestry and West Felton, Simon King, a 47-year-old businessman and director of a furniture company based in Oswestry, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing numerous indecent images of children. The conviction follows a detailed investigation that uncovered the disturbing material stored on a computer located at his business premises in West Felton.

Simon King had consistently denied any involvement with the illicit images, asserting that he was not responsible for the content found on the computer. Despite his denials, a jury at an earlier trial found him guilty of five separate offences related to the possession of indecent images. The case was brought before Shrewsbury Crown Court, where Judge Jim Tindal delivered the sentencing. King was sentenced to a total of six months in prison, a decision that underscores the severity of the charges and the court’s stance on such offenses.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Tindal expressed his concerns about King’s attitude towards the allegations. He noted that even after the jury’s verdict, King remained in a state of denial, refusing to accept responsibility or provide any explanation for his actions. The judge emphasized that he lacked confidence in King’s willingness to comply with any probation supervision, given his continued refusal to acknowledge the gravity of his conduct.

The court also heard that King, who resides at The Barns, Abbotsmoor Farm House in West Felton, had a prior criminal record. In 2005, he was jailed for conspiracy to defraud, indicating a history of involvement in serious criminal activity.

In addition to his prison sentence, King was subjected to a three-year sexual harm prevention order, which aims to restrict his contact and activities to protect the public from potential harm. Furthermore, he was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for a period of seven years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

The case was initiated after police investigations revealed the presence of the illicit material on a computer at Halcyon Furniture, a business located in Haughton, West Felton. The police analysis uncovered nearly 170 images and videos stored across five different hard drives within the computer. Of these, 157 were indecent photographs of children, with 38 classified as Category A, indicating the most serious level of harm. An additional four images fell into Category B, and 119 were categorized as Category C. The collection also included five moving images, four of which were deemed to be in the most serious category.

King was accused of downloading or creating these images between March 2010 and August 2012, although he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and the court’s decision reflects the serious nature of such offenses and the need for strict penalties to protect vulnerable victims.