ALAN MATTEY SENTENCED IN RICHMOND FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In a serious case that has shocked the local community, Alan Mattey, a former garage owner from Dorset, was sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of child exploitation on his personal computers. The investigation was initiated following intelligence shared by US law enforcement agencies as part of the international operation known as Operation Ore.

Mattey, who was arrested at his residence in Richmond, Surrey, on December 23, faced multiple charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. During the police search, officers seized two computers from his home on The Avenue. A thorough examination of these devices revealed a total of 134 indecent images depicting children, with the youngest being an 18-month-old infant. The images were classified into various categories based on their severity, with 19 images falling into category four, which is considered highly serious, and the remaining images spread across categories three, two, and one, the least severe.

Prosecutor Roderick Blain provided details of the findings, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the material. He explained that the images included some involving very young children, including infants as young as 12 to 18 months old. The images' classification ranged from the most serious to the least, with 54 images in category three, 15 in category two, and 46 in category one.

During the court proceedings at Bournemouth Crown Court, Mattey pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of children. He also requested that 118 other related matters be taken into consideration during sentencing. In his defense, Nicholas Corsellis argued that Mattey did not have a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls or child pornography. He explained that Mattey had been involved in a long-term, on-and-off relationship and, like many others, purchased a computer in the mid-1990s. Corsellis suggested that Mattey’s interest in pornography grew over time, especially as his relationship began to deteriorate, leading to an overwhelming fascination with such material.

Judge John Beashel delivered the sentence, which included ten months of imprisonment for each of the counts, to be served concurrently. Additionally, Mattey was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years and was subjected to an extended supervision order for three years following his release. The judge also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the two computers seized during the police search, emphasizing the gravity of the offense.

In his remarks, Judge Beashel expressed his disgust at the material found, particularly highlighting the involvement of infants. He stated, “I’ve had to look at some of these and they are disgusting, particularly involving babies only 12 to 18 months old. Every child to be found on these images is a victim whose innocence has been taken away. People like you contribute to this corruption by making use of this filthy material.” The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat child exploitation and the serious consequences faced by those found guilty of such heinous crimes.