MATTHEW CORNISH FROM SUTTON MONTIS FACES SERIOUS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES IN TAUNTON

In August 2018, Matthew Cornish, a 53-year-old resident of Sutton Montis, found himself at the center of a disturbing criminal case involving the possession and download of a significant number of indecent images of children. The case was brought before Somerset Magistrates' Court in Yeovil, where Cornish appeared to face multiple charges related to his alleged activities over a two-year period.

During the court proceedings, Cornish pleaded guilty to three separate charges. The first charge involved the creation of an indecent photograph of a child, classified as the most serious Category A, which he admitted to having committed between June 1, 2015, and May 15, 2017, at his residence in Sutton Montis. In addition to this, he also confessed to two other charges concerning the possession of indecent images of children, categorized as B and C, within the same timeframe.

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton provided details about the evidence collected by police. The authorities had seized Cornish’s devices from his home in Sutton Montis, which upon analysis revealed a disturbing collection of images. The police found a total of 41 images classified as Category A, 98 images in Category B, and an alarming 1,857 images in Category C. The sheer volume and severity of these images underscored the gravity of the case.

Given the extensive number of images involved and the seriousness of the charges, the magistrates expressed their concern about their limited sentencing powers. They decided that the case should be transferred to the Crown Court for a more appropriate and severe sentencing by a judge. Consequently, all three charges were adjourned, and Cornish was ordered to appear before a judge at Taunton Crown Court on September 14. Until then, he was released on unconditional bail, allowing him to remain free pending his sentencing hearing.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and it underscores the importance of judicial processes in addressing such grave offenses. The community and authorities alike await the upcoming sentencing at Taunton Crown Court, where the full extent of justice will be served.