MATTHEW BYRNE FROM WALLASEY, WIRRAL, CAUGHT WATCHING CHILDREN IN SWIMWEAR AFTER PRISON RELEASE

In September 2020, a disturbing case emerged involving Matthew Byrne, a man with a dark and depraved secret life, who was caught engaging in illegal and highly disturbing activities involving children. Byrne, originally from Wallasey on the Wirral Peninsula, had previously served a lengthy prison sentence for a series of heinous crimes, including sadistic sexual assaults on sex workers and the possession of thousands of indecent images of children.

His criminal history dates back to April 2010, when Byrne, then 38 years old and a prominent figure in Liverpool’s charitable sector, was sentenced to an indefinite term for public protection. The court heard how he had led a double life—publicly known as the director of Liverpool’s Young Person’s Advisory Service, a role that involved working with children as young as ten, while secretly engaging in violent and sexually abusive behavior.

Byrne’s crimes included luring sex workers to his residence on Wirral’s Tollemache Street, where he transformed a bedroom into a secret torture chamber. There, he would subject these women to extreme violence, including tying them up, gagging them, and beating them with a cane until blood sprayed across the walls. One victim described her experience as torture, and the court was told that Byrne’s actions were both sadistic and calculated. The women targeted were vulnerable, often desperate for money to feed their drug addictions, making them easy prey for Byrne’s exploitation.

Police investigations revealed that Byrne had accessed a vast collection of violent pornography and sadistic websites, which detailed the torture of women. These findings linked him to the attacks on sex workers, where he would restrain, gag, and beat them, sometimes using sexual implements. His actions were so extreme that one victim fainted from the pain, only to discover Byrne had used a plastic bag to suffocate her, leading her to believe she was about to die.

In addition to his violent assaults, Byrne was found to have a collection of nearly 9,000 obscene images of children, along with a variety of child abuse videos. His computer analysis uncovered numerous searches for videos depicting children in swimwear, with some videos viewed dozens of times since May and June of that year. Specifically, Byrne had watched a video of girls and boys aged around seven modeling swimwear 37 times since May, and another of girls around six in swimwear 30 times since June. He also viewed videos of children aged five to seven in swimwear 25 times since May.

His internet activity was scrutinized after police attended his home unannounced on August 5, 2020. During the inspection, officers discovered that Byrne had been watching a video advertising children’s beachwear just a day prior. When questioned about his conduct, Byrne claimed he was testing himself to see if he would be aroused, stating that he had been instructed in a sex offenders treatment program to masturbate and then look at pictures of children when he was not aroused. He insisted that he was no longer attracted to children and was unaware that he had breached his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

However, police found evidence contradicting his claims. Byrne admitted to watching the videos, but explained that a pop-up had appeared while he was browsing other YouTube content. Prosecutor Katy Appleton stated that Byrne’s searches included over 4,800 for YouTube links and videos, with specific videos of children in swimwear viewed multiple times since May and June. Byrne’s actions prompted his arrest, and subsequent analysis confirmed the extent of his illegal activity.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Byrne was charged with breaching his SOPO, which prohibited him from engaging with sex workers and restricted his internet use, especially regarding material involving children. The court heard that Byrne had been aware of the restrictions but had nonetheless violated them. His defense argued that he was trying to control his impulses, but the judge was not convinced. Judge Stuart Driver, QC, described Byrne’s breaches as more than minor, given the frequency and nature of his viewing habits. Byrne was sentenced to eight months in prison for breaching the order, with the court noting that he posed a high risk to children in the community.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Byrne had previously been involved in even more disturbing activities. Police had uncovered a sex chamber in his home, equipped with shackles, manacles, a leather collar, a cane, ropes, heavy-duty tape, polythene bags, girls’ clothing, and soiled bedding. These items, along with the obscene images and violent pornography, painted a picture of a man deeply immersed in sadistic and illegal pursuits. Experts linked Byrne to attacks on street sex workers, where he would restrain, gag, and beat them, often with extreme violence, including strangulation and repeated cane strikes. Victims described their experiences as torture, and their statements revealed lasting trauma, flashbacks, sleep disturbances, and difficulties caring for their children.

Judge Phipps ordered Byrne to serve a minimum of 42 months before being considered for release, but the actual sentence was nine years and seven months. Byrne remains incarcerated, with a parole review pending to determine if he can safely re-enter society. His case underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses, despite his previous imprisonment and the restrictions placed upon him. His case continues to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with such depraved tendencies, even after they have been incarcerated and subjected to legal restrictions.