MATTHEW CORCORAN FROM BERRYHILL CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE

In December 2019, Matthew Corcoran, a 33-year-old resident of Berryhill, found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after authorities uncovered disturbing evidence of child abuse images on his electronic devices. The case came to light when police, responding to an unrelated matter at Corcoran’s home in Ashfield Square, Berryhill, seized a Lenovo tablet and a memory card. During this investigation, officers discovered a significant collection of indecent images of children, which had been stored on Corcoran’s devices.

According to prosecutor Sue Hayers, police had cause to visit Corcoran’s residence regarding an unrelated issue that was not pursued further. During their visit, they recovered the tablet and examined the contents of the memory card, which revealed a disturbing cache of illegal images. The police analysis uncovered a total of 2,095 still photographs and videos depicting child abuse, with the material dating from November 2015 to March 2018.

Corcoran, who was present during the police interview, chose not to answer questions but ultimately pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of a child. The court heard that he had initially sought solace online after losing his job, which appeared to be a factor in his actions. Following his guilty plea, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre sentenced him to a two-year community order. As part of his sentence, Corcoran was required to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activities and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Furthermore, the court imposed a five-year sexual harm prevention order, restricting Corcoran’s internet use and contact with children, to prevent any further offenses. He will also be subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for five years. In addition to these measures, magistrates ordered Corcoran to pay £185 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge, emphasizing the seriousness of his offenses and the need for ongoing monitoring and support to prevent future harm.