Disruption

A Message To The Community

To whoever may see this,

This is slow writing to you guys, you may better recognise me by my RP account @codemasterslow. You might have noticed a severe gap since my last message to anyone.. I'm still alive, but I'm not exactly here. I feel that it is absolutely necessary to give you all a rundown on what's happened, and turned my life into a living nightmare...

On Tuesday April 15, I was awoken early in the morning by a strange man who ordered me to get dressed and go downstairs immediately. Groggily, I did so and sat down wondering what was going on, as strange people were swarming the insides of our house with intention. Eventually, I learn that they were plain clothes police officers investigating a case of the downloading of indecent pictures of children. Many pieces of tech were analysed onsite, and on picking up something on my laptop, I was arrested on suspicion of owning CP. My brother was also taken in at the same time on the same suspicion.

After spending several hours in a cell sleeping on what could be best described as school gym mats, I was eventually taken in for questioning on what they had found so far. From what they had described to me, they had found countless pictures on my laptop of an 'indecent' nature. Unless someone had planted something onto there without me somehow noticing, I immediately recognised what they had thought was the child images.

My entire collection of Touhou material. Pictures and manga/doujinshi. Lewd and non-lewd. It didn't matter which, all of it tripped their radar. As I learned, it doesn't matter whether it's a real photograph or the finest Japanese artwork.. According to English law, if it shows someone who is under the age of 18, it's completely illegal. Touhou is a series full of unique characters where some of them can only be represented as underneath this pivotal age, despite the continuity granting them a much more significant actual age.

I couldn't believe what I had heard. Something that I had taken for granted for at least five years had been shown to be against the laws of this country. Something that I'm sure that all you guys think is perfectly normal within your own areas of residence. It's absolutely ludicrous, stupid, and shouldn't even be a thing. But it is.

After all was said and done, I answered all the questions they gave me, and at the end of it all, I expressed my deepest regrets for what I had fallen into. My last 10 hours locked up in that prison cell were the most terrifying hours of my life.. I felt, and I still feel now, that everything I've tried to achieve over the 24 years of my life has been all for nought.

I was eventually released on bail close to midnight between Wednesday/Thursday 16/17 April. But they gave me a set of terms that I must enforce upon myself while they retain their investigation, as well as almost all of my computer equipment. These terms include remaining at home, never using a phone, never using the internet, and never using a device capable of doing so. This bail period ends on Friday July 25, 99 - 100 days after release.

I've been engaged with the online community of the internet for a very long time now. Nearly all of my friends can only be contacted through it. When I was taken into custody, I promised the Sarge there that I would inform everyone as to the truth of what has happened when I was released. I've not only been denied the ability to do that, but denied the entire core of my lifestyle for over three months.

This, is a fate worse than death.

Upon seeing my father and mother for the first time, I simply collapsed into their arms and cried my heart out. I don't know how it's meant to treat a normal person, but to me, less than two days locked up in a cell nearly destroyed me. You have no sense of time in that place, even less if it lacks a window to the outside to let in the natural clock of light.

A loyalty oath between me and my father means I can barely retain access to my PS3, 360, PSP, 3DS and, most crucially, my iPad. Internet systems in the household have been terminated entirely, and under fear of being stalked at every opportunity, any step I take towards trying to contact anyone is with extreme paranoia and caution.

It's going to be the longest quarter year of my life, and by far the most painful... And at the end of it all, it's not even guaranteed that I will be able to see you all again. I send you all my best regards that, despite what has happened, that I am okay, physically but certainly not mentally. I love you all.

As for my brother... On Thursday 17 April, he pleaded guilty to five counts of child abuse relating to our biggest brother's step-daughter, and is awaiting sentencing sometime in May. It is unlikely that he will ever be seen again. He leaves in his wake, a room filled to every nook with collectibles from countless science fiction shows as well as Power Rangers items of a colossal scale, a bank card which is close to £2000 in debt and is only getting worse, and a family that has been split in twain, with the biggest brother pledging never to see or speak of him ever again.

God speed, my friends.

- slow