Darron Mason

A 58-year-old man from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has been imprisoned for 21 years following his conviction for serious sexual offences against children, including attempts to groom a decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl and historical abuse of two victims.

The case began on 1 November 2020 when members of the vigilante group Seek and Expose confronted Darron Mason at his home in Ellesmere. The group had been operating an online decoy profile named 'Emily', whom Mason believed to be a 12-year-old girl. Mason had sent sexually explicit images, messages, and videos to the profile, leading to his immediate arrest by police after the vigilantes handed over the evidence.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court on 24 October 2025, Frida Hussain KC, prosecuting, detailed how police searches of Mason's laptop and mobile phone revealed not only the communications with 'Emily' but also an extensive web search history indicating a clear interest in sexual activity with young girls. Mason admitted to 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.

• The sting operation uncovered Mason's predatory online behaviour targeting what he thought was a minor.
• Following the public posting of a confrontation video, two victims came forward with accounts of historical sexual abuse by Mason.
• These revelations expanded the scope of the investigation, leading to additional charges related to the past offences.

The court heard that the historical abuse claims surfaced after the vigilante video gained attention online, prompting the victims to report their experiences. Mason, described as a 'dangerous' paedophile, was ultimately sentenced to 21 years' imprisonment, reflecting the severity of his actions spanning both recent and historical periods. The case was reported by the Shropshire Star on 25 October 2025, highlighting the role of online vigilantes in bringing such offenders to justice.