STEPHEN MASON FROM REDBOURN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORN CHARGES IN HERTFORDSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the community of Redbourn, Stephen Mason, a 44-year-old resident of the village, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after being found in possession of a significant collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light following a police raid on his home in October of the previous year, which uncovered over 1,000 illicit images stored across various devices.

During the proceedings at St Albans Crown Court, Mason pleaded guilty to ten counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, along with two additional counts related to possessing extreme pornographic material. The police had seized a computer, an external hard drive, and DVDs from Mason’s residence, all of which contained a total of 1,070 images. The court was informed that the images ranged from less severe to the most serious levels of child abuse material, with one image classified as Level 5, the most extreme, and the majority, over 900, at Level 1.

Prosecutor Alex Krickler detailed the police investigation, revealing that officers had conducted a thorough search of Mason’s property and confiscated electronic equipment containing the illicit content. During police interviews, Mason acknowledged his addiction to pornography but expressed surprise at the volume of images discovered. He admitted that he often accessed such material after consuming alcohol, which he said he drank in large quantities—up to 100 pints per week. Mason also stated that he had sought help for his addiction but insisted he was not intentionally seeking out images of children.

In court, Mason took full responsibility for his actions, expressing remorse and stating that he was disgusted with himself and recognized the need for professional help. The judge, Recorder Samantha Leigh, emphasized the community’s revulsion at the possession of such images but also considered the guidelines for sentencing. She noted that the number of images was relatively low compared to other cases and initially suggested a starting point of 12 weeks in prison. However, she ultimately decided that a custodial sentence would not serve the public interest or adequately address Mason’s rehabilitation needs.

Instead, Mason was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes a supervision period of three years. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and disqualified from working with children. The court also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, restricting Mason to using only monitored devices for internet access, overseen by a public protection unit. As part of his rehabilitation, Mason is required to attend a sex offenders treatment program and undergo alcohol treatment for at least six months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £450.

In a related statement, the court highlighted Mason’s self-confessed hatred of children, which he expressed during police interviews. Despite his claims of remorse, the case underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals with such offending histories, and the community of Redbourn remains vigilant in the wake of these disturbing revelations.