MATTHEW BEATTIE FROM LANGWORTH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN LINCOLN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Matthew Beattie, a resident of Main Road in Langworth, was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving a young girl. The offences, which spanned from 2007 to 2010, involved the systematic sexual abuse of a five-year-old girl, with Beattie recording many of these acts on video.

The gravity of Beattie's crimes only came to light years later when investigators uncovered a collection of videos and images stored on his computer. Prosecutor Mark Watson detailed the extent of the abuse, stating, “This defendant systematically abused this girl in a number of ways. Many of the examples were filmed by the defendant. That was what brought these offences to light.”

He further explained that Beattie not only recorded the abuse but also meticulously labelled the footage, indicating a disturbing level of premeditation and intent. The police investigation revealed that Beattie kept these recordings for several years, highlighting the prolonged nature of his criminal activities.

During the search of Beattie's electronic devices, authorities discovered a total of 2,059 indecent images of children. Among these, 45 were classified as being in the most serious category, indicating the severity of the material involved. The evidence presented in court painted a picture of a man deeply involved in the exploitation of children.

Beattie, aged 47, faced multiple charges, including three counts of raping a child under the age of 13, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual assault. He also admitted to making indecent images of a child on two occasions and possessing a total of five indecent images. The offences were committed over a period of three years, beginning when the victim was just five years old.

In addition to his prison sentence, Beattie was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, reflecting the serious concern about his potential risk to the public. Judge Simon Hirst, presiding over the case, emphasized the dangerousness of Beattie’s actions, stating, “I am required to consider the issue of dangerousness. I am satisfied that you present such a risk.”

The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Langworth and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and thorough investigation in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.