PONTEFRACT PAEDOPHILE CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES AND ASSAULTED VICTIMS
An 'isolated' paedophile from Pontefract, Matthew Cordall, aged 22, took indecent images of children for his own sexual gratification and narrowly avoided a prison sentence.The Leeds Crown Court heard that police were alerted in February last year after an indecent image of a child was uploaded to Quora.
The IP address linked to the upload led officers to Cordall's home.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Cordall targeted two young children, taking indecent images of them and sharing these images with others.
The court was informed that one of the children featured in the images had also been a victim of a sexual assault by Cordall, carried out to facilitate the taking of the photograph.
Authorities found a category B image, two category C images, and a prohibited CGI image or video.
Cordall used services like Mega for anonymously sending and receiving files related to child abuse, and his internet searches included content related to child sexual abuse.
The court revealed that Cordall, who was 20 at the time of the offences, admitted to sexual assault of a child, creating indecent images at categories B and C, making a category C indecent image, and possession of a prohibited image.
He had no previous convictions.
His lawyer stated that Cordall acknowledges he has a sexual interest in children, is remorseful, and is overwhelmed with regret and shame.
He has been described as a shy, socially isolated young man who spends most of his time in his bedroom.
The judge sentenced him to two years suspended for two years, with requirements to complete a sex offender program, 55 rehabilitation activity days, and imposed notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
