MATTHEW GARDNER FROM CAM CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN GLOUCESTER

In February 2021, Matthew Gardner, a 31-year-old resident of Manor Avenue in Cam, was sentenced to a ten-month prison term at Gloucester Crown Court after being found guilty of possessing and downloading indecent images of children. This marked his second conviction related to such offenses, highlighting a troubling pattern of behavior.

Gardner pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including downloading indecent images across all three categories of severity—A, B, and C—and breaching a court order designed to prevent such activities. The breach involved deleting 24 messages and attempting to conceal his online activity between February 27, 2019, and December 31, 2019.

Prosecutor Ramin Pakrooh provided context, revealing that Gardner had previously received an eight-month suspended sentence on March 17, 2017, for similar offenses. At that time, he was also subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, which mandated regular home visits and spot checks to monitor compliance. Despite these measures, Gardner continued to access and download illegal material.

In December 2019, during a routine examination of Gardner’s phone, authorities noticed an absence of browsing history, which raised suspicions. Gardner denied deleting any files, but an alert file name prompted further investigation. Experts seized and examined his device, uncovering that on November 19, 2019, Gardner had downloaded four images classified as Category A—the most severe—along with two Category B images and 39 Category C images. Additionally, three videos exceeding 34 minutes in total length were recovered.

Further analysis revealed that between February 27 and December 31, 2019, Gardner had deliberately deleted 24 messages, contravening the court order. The content of these messages remains unknown, but it is believed that most originated from family members, underscoring the importance of maintaining internet browsing records for legal accountability.

Judge Timothy Rose addressed Gardner’s repeated offenses, emphasizing that this was his second conviction for downloading indecent images. The judge pointed out that Gardner had previously been under strict court supervision but had failed to adhere to the conditions, prioritizing work over his intervention program. The judge expressed disappointment that Gardner reoffended just two years after his initial sentence, viewing his actions as a clear violation of court orders and a serious breach of trust.

In light of these violations and the nature of his offenses, Judge Rose sentenced Gardner to ten months in prison. He was also subjected to a ten-year order to stay on the sex offenders register, and a ten-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed. Additionally, Gardner was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £140.

Reflecting on Gardner’s previous legal history, it is noted that in March 2017, he narrowly avoided immediate imprisonment after being caught with over 30 hours of videos depicting child sexual abuse and bestiality. At that time, he received a suspended sentence, along with a five-year sexual harm prevention order and a requirement to sign the sex offenders register. Despite having no prior convictions for sexual offenses, Gardner’s repeated offenses demonstrate a troubling pattern of behavior that continues to pose a risk to the community.

Community members in Cam and Dursley experienced shock and concern upon learning of Gardner’s actions. His case underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in monitoring and preventing the distribution and possession of illegal material involving minors and animals. The court’s decision aims to serve both as a punishment and a warning to others involved in similar activities, emphasizing the importance of strict legal consequences for such heinous crimes.