In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that then 36-year-old Timothy Waterman was sentenced to 16 months in prison after being caught with a collection of repulsive indecent images of children. Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Hampshire, the defendant—of Humbers View, King’s Somborne, Hampshire—pleaded guilty to possessing 1,300 indecent images. It was reported that the haul included 462 Category A files—the most serious kind—many of which featured young boys in the age range of just two to four years old.
The investigation established that Waterman was a repeat offender who had previously been given a suspended sentence in 2015 for sexually assaulting a young boy he was babysitting. Hampshire Constabulary reported that officers visited his address in King’s Somborne, Hampshire, in September after receiving information that the property was being used to download illicit material. During the search, police seized a USB stick, a tablet, and a laptop, discovering that approximately half of the Category A files were moving images.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Waterman had also breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by failing to disclose his tablet to police during an earlier monitoring visit in May. Southampton Crown Court, Hampshire, heard that the defendant claimed to be seeking help for an addiction through a prevention foundation. The investigation established that the nature of the material was particularly grave, with the prosecutor noting the aggravating feature of moving images involving extremely young children in Hampshire.
Judge Peter Henry rejected any notion that the defendant was a victim of his own problems, stating clearly that the children depicted were the true victims. For his actions in King’s Somborne, Hampshire, Waterman was jailed for 16 months. The judge noted that a community order would be a failure of his duty given the gravity of the offences and the repulsive nature of the schedule detailing what had been done to the children featured in the defendant’s collection.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Timothy Waterman as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 16 months (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements extended to 10 years.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order extended to 10 years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Southampton Crown Court, Hampshire, following a Hampshire Constabulary investigation.
- Criminal Record: Possession of indecent images (Categories A, B, and C); Breach of SHPO; Previous conviction for sexual assault of a child.
- Origin: Humbers View, King’s Somborne, Hampshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Waterman is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Hampshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct in King’s Somborne, which involved the deliberate concealment of digital devices and a history of assaulting a child in a position of trust, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of breaching court orders and his interest in toddlers require the most intensive digital forensic monitoring and unannounced home visits by the Hampshire Constabulary.
As a registered sex offender, Waterman’s details are logged on the national police database for a decade from his sentencing. Authorities state that his behaviour in Hampshire demonstrated a calculated effort to hide his predatory interests from the police. Any failure to declare a new device, any attempt to delete internet history, or any unauthorized contact with children will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed and repeat offender.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.