MATT DE VERE FROM WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ONLINE PAEDOPHILE RING INVOLVING US AND CANADA

In a disturbing case that highlights the ongoing threat of online child exploitation, Matt De Vere, a 34-year-old man from Westcliff-On-Sea, Essex, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of possessing and distributing a vast collection of indecent images of children, as well as actively participating in an international paedophile ring. The court heard that De Vere was involved in sharing horrifying videos and images depicting children as young as eight months being subjected to sexual abuse, with some victims shown tied up, beaten with belts, or appearing to be drugged or asleep during the abuse.

Prosecutor Charlotte Newell detailed the extent of the investigation, revealing that police examined five electronic devices belonging to De Vere, including an iPad and a smartphone. These devices contained a staggering total of 3,455 indecent images, with 1,179 classified as the most severe Category A material. The images and videos spanned from November 2015 to June 2016, but evidence indicated that De Vere had accessed such material as early as 2013.

De Vere, who previously worked as a deputy pub manager, admitted at an earlier hearing to 13 separate offences. These included the distribution and creation of indecent images of children, encouraging others to share such material, and possession of extreme pornography, which the court noted was largely bestiality. During the hearing, De Vere was visibly distressed, often tearful as he sat in the dock.

The court was told that De Vere was part of an online paedophile network that operated across borders, with undercover police officers in the United States and Canada infiltrating the ring. The offenders used legitimate video conferencing platforms such as Skype and Zoom to communicate, share images, and coordinate their activities. Some of the offenders, including De Vere, were traced back to the UK, with investigations revealing their involvement in this disturbing network.

De Vere was arrested in June 2016 following an investigation into Skype conversations linked to Peter Allott, a former deputy headteacher of a west London school who had been jailed the previous year for similar offences. During the investigation, police discovered that De Vere and Allott had exchanged images of child abuse. In one exchange, De Vere explicitly asked for more material, saying, “please say you’ve got more like that, please please, best I’ve seen.”

Further examination of De Vere’s electronic devices uncovered more than 3,000 images of child abuse, with some children depicted in highly disturbing circumstances. The evidence showed that De Vere had a particular sexual interest in fathers abusing their sons, and he used the online alias “Max Thunder” during conversations. The police investigation also revealed that De Vere encouraged others to share similar images, contributing to the proliferation of this vile material.

In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, confiscated all electronic devices belonging to De Vere, and barred him from working with children or vulnerable adults. The judge, Patricia Lynch, emphasized the severity of his actions, stating, “You were part of a paedophile ring and the group of you were encouraging and distributing, and it’s because of your actions that more vulnerable children are going to be filmed as the demand for this sort of filth increases.”

This case underscores the global nature of online child exploitation and the importance of international cooperation in tackling such heinous crimes, with law enforcement agencies working tirelessly across borders to bring offenders like De Vere to justice.