MATTHEW BERGIN FROM CLACTON-ON-SEA SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES

In December 2018, a disturbing case emerged involving Matthew Bergin, a resident of Clacton-on-Sea, who was found to have engaged in the viewing and distribution of child abuse images for his own gratification. The case revealed a troubling pattern of online activity and possession of indecent material involving young children.

It was reported that Bergin, a 45-year-old man, had been secretly filming himself while viewing child abuse images, which he kept for personal pleasure. Further investigations uncovered that he had also shared these illicit images with other individuals who shared similar depraved interests. Online chat logs revealed that Bergin communicated with other paedophiles, openly discussing their disturbing desire to harm children as young as one year old.

The authorities took action when they executed a search warrant at Bergin’s residence in November 2017. During the raid, police seized his mobile phone, which he handed over to officers, stating, “This is all you will need.” A subsequent search of the device uncovered a collection of highly illegal material, including 19 Category A still images, two Category A movies, along with a variety of Category B movies and photographs. Additionally, there were 77 images classified as Category C, some depicting children as young as 13 years old.

Prosecutor Samantha Lowther detailed the severity of the content, stating, “The defendant had taken a movie of himself, in that movie, he was masturbating to a photo of a child who was six to seven years of age.” The investigation extended to Bergin’s computer, where authorities discovered he had actively searched for indecent images of children and used the chat service Kik to communicate with other offenders. Transcripts from these conversations revealed disturbing discussions about abusing children, including explicit talk about harming infants as young as one year old and children up to nine years old.

Following his arrest in November 2017, Bergin admitted to police that he had viewed indecent images of children. It was also established that he had distributed a total of 30 images, which included eight Category A images and 22 Category C images. When questioned again during a police interview on July 27, 2018, Bergin chose to remain silent, replying with “no comment” to all questions.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Bergin appeared before Judge Patricia Lynch, who expressed her dismay at the case. She emphasized the real harm caused to children by such images, stating, “I have these cases come in front of me time and time again, and time and time again I say the same thing. People like yourself who like to view these images seem to forget these are real children, and as far as still images are concerned, children who are abused.” She pointed out that Bergin had a six-year-old son, highlighting the personal connection and the gravity of his actions.

Judge Lynch criticized Bergin for not making eye contact during the proceedings, asking whether he had considered the suffering of the children depicted in the images. She remarked, “The damage for six-year-olds, who are first of all assaulted, filmed and then live with the knowledge that they have been filmed, is incalculable. For individuals to get their kicks off watching it, defendants who cannot even look the courts in the eye.”

In sentencing, Bergin was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, for one count of making indecent images of children under 16 and one count of distributing such images. He was also ordered to complete 50 days of rehabilitation activities and pay a victim surcharge if applicable. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, aimed at preventing any further offenses.

This case underscores the ongoing battle against child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in tackling such heinous crimes, especially in communities like Clacton-on-Sea where Bergin resides.