NICHOLAS MATHEWS FROM BULFORD CAUGHT IN SHOCKING ONLINE SEXUAL PLOT WITH TEENAGE GIRL

In October 2016, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Private Nicholas Mathews, a soldier stationed at Bulford, who found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation after attempting to meet a teenage girl for sexual activity. The case was brought to light through a covert operation conducted by fellow servicemen, who had set up a sting to catch individuals seeking to engage in illegal encounters with minors.

Private Mathews, aged 28 at the time, engaged in a series of conversations with a girl he believed to be 15 years old, under the alias 'Ellie.' The interactions began on the popular dating app Tinder, where 'Ellie' was initially listed as 18, the minimum age allowed on the platform. However, shortly after they matched, the girl revealed her true age, stating she was only 15 and inquiring whether this posed a problem for him. Despite this revelation, Mathews continued to communicate with her, and the exchanges quickly turned sexual in nature.

Mathews, who had previously been decorated for his service in Cyprus and Afghanistan, asked 'Ellie' provocative questions, including what underwear she planned to wear when they met. He also suggested they meet in a car park in Durrington, Wiltshire, with the intention of furthering their encounter. The conversation was marked by explicit messages, and he even asked if she used her tongue while kissing, indicating a clear sexual interest.

To facilitate the investigation, rifleman Daniel Sutor, inspired by a Channel 4 documentary titled 'The Paedophile Hunter,' created a fake social media profile for a girl named Ellie, using a friend's sister's picture. Sutor's goal was to catch individuals attempting to meet minors for sex and to pass on any evidence to the authorities. The operation was part of the 'Vigilante Nonce Hunting Group,' which aimed to confront and expose potential offenders.

When Mathews suggested they meet, he proposed a plan to meet in the Durrington car park and then go back to the girl’s parents’ house. On the day of the planned meeting, Mathews arrived at the designated location, only to be met with hostility. A group of soldiers, who had been involved in the sting, shouted abuse at him, charged at his vehicle, and threw eggs and flour, forcing him to drive away. It was later revealed that Mathews worked at Picton Barracks in Bulford, the same base as many of the soldiers involved in the sting.

Following the incident, investigations confirmed that Mathews had been communicating with the fictitious 'Ellie' for several weeks. His messages included explicit content and a clear intent to meet a minor for sexual purposes. The court martial proceedings heard that he had taken the initiative to move their conversations to Kik, an anonymous messaging platform, after initially meeting on Tinder.

During the trial, Lieutenant Colonel Graham Coombes outlined the details of the case, emphasizing that Mathews had been aware of 'Ellie’s' age but continued to pursue the interaction. The court was told that Mathews asked her about her underwear and discussed meeting her in a car park, with the intention of going to her parents’ house. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of minors.

In his defense, Mark Ashley argued that the operation was a sting set up by soldiers to catch paedophiles and that Mathews’s intentions were not to meet a real child. He acknowledged that Mathews’s judgment had failed him and that he recognized the gravity of his actions.

Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor condemned Mathews’s conduct, stating, “You were the subject of a sting operation set up by a serviceman. You initially responded to a photograph on Tinder, but very soon after, you were informed that Ellie was 15. You made it clear that this did not trouble you and took the initiative to move her to a more anonymous site, Kik, where you engaged in sexual messaging. You arranged to meet and then arrived at the location only to be met with hostility from fellow soldiers. This is a serious and shameful offence.”

As a result of his actions, Private Nicholas Mathews was dismissed from the army and sentenced to 14 months in prison at Bulford Military Court. The court also noted his decorated military service, which included medals awarded for his time in Cyprus and Afghanistan. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by military personnel and law enforcement to combat online grooming and protect minors from exploitation.