MATTHEW O’MAHONEY FROM PRESTWICH SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES AT MANCHESTER COURT

In a case that has shocked the local community of Prestwich and garnered significant attention at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, 27-year-old Matthew O’Mahoney faced serious allegations related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about O’Mahoney’s activities, which included downloading and sharing highly explicit and illegal material involving minors.

On October 4, 2019, police officers executed a search warrant at O’Mahoney’s residence on Milton Road in Prestwich at approximately 7:40 a.m. During the raid, authorities confiscated multiple electronic devices, including mobile phones and a laptop, which were later examined for evidence. The investigation uncovered a troubling collection of images and videos, with police discovering 22 of the most serious Category A images of children, including one video. Additionally, there were eight Category B images and six in Category C, all depicting minors in sexually explicit contexts.

The police investigation did not stop there. Further examination of the devices revealed nine images of extreme pornography involving animals, three of which were videos, along with seven images classified as prohibited. A WhatsApp conversation was also uncovered, during which O’Mahoney sent two indecent images classified as Category A to another individual, indicating active distribution of illegal material.

Prosecutor Megan Tollitt outlined the case to the court, emphasizing the severity of the evidence. O’Mahoney admitted to multiple charges, including distributing indecent images of a child, possessing extreme pornographic images, possessing prohibited images of a child, and downloading indecent images on three separate occasions.

The court also learned that O’Mahoney had a prior incident in 2013, where he was arrested for a potential conversation with a 13-year-old girl. However, no charges were filed at that time, and the case did not proceed further.

In sentencing, Judge John Edwards opted for a community order lasting three years, which includes 150 hours of unpaid work. The judge also mandated that O’Mahoney attend an offenders’ programme, participate in ten days of rehabilitation activities, and register as a sex offender. Furthermore, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for five years.

During the sentencing, Judge Edwards made it clear that O’Mahoney would not be given another chance to avoid imprisonment. He described the images found as deeply troubling and shocking, noting that some were among the vilest forms of abuse. The judge also offered a somewhat ironic suggestion, advising O’Mahoney to spend more time fishing—his hobby—rather than engaging in activities such as gaming consoles and chat rooms, which he implied contributed to his offending behavior.

Overall, the case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of child exploitation material, and highlights the serious consequences faced by those involved in such illegal activities.