MATTHEW HEPBURN FROM USHAW MOOR SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY AND HOME

In September 2018, a serious case of child exploitation material came to light involving Matthew Hepburn, a resident of Ushaw Moor. The incident unfolded when police executed a search warrant at Hepburn’s residence, located on Oakridge Road, Ushaw Moor, leading to the seizure of multiple electronic devices. The investigation was initiated after concerns arose regarding indecent images found on his personal computers and mobile devices.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby detailed that during the initial police questioning, Hepburn was cooperative and admitted to possessing inappropriate material. Interestingly, suspicion initially also targeted Hepburn’s wife, as she discovered an indecent image on a mobile phone she recently found in their home and brought it to the attention of authorities. This discovery prompted further investigation into Hepburn’s digital footprint.

While the contents of the seized computers were awaiting forensic analysis, Durham University, where Hepburn worked as an IT assistant, uncovered indecent images on his workstation. This workstation was exclusively accessible to Hepburn, raising serious concerns about his conduct at the university. The university promptly reported this to the police, who then conducted a comprehensive analysis of the equipment submitted for examination.

Hepburn, aged 36, was subsequently remanded in custody. During a court hearing in June, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography. These charges related to material found both at his home and on his mobile devices. Later, appearing via video link from a nearby prison, Hepburn admitted to three additional counts of creating indecent images of children, specifically linked to his work station at Durham University.

The investigation revealed that the offending material consisted of several hundred images and videos depicting young girls aged from five to sixteen, with the majority of the images featuring girls between the ages of twelve and fourteen. The severity and volume of the material underscored the gravity of the case.

In sentencing, Recorder Ian Atherton imposed a one-year prison term on Hepburn. Additionally, he ordered that Hepburn be subject to notification requirements as a sex offender for the next ten years. Furthermore, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also issued for a decade, restricting Hepburn’s activities and ensuring ongoing monitoring to protect the community from potential harm.