PAUL MATTHEWS FROM CHICHESTER AND TANGMERE SENT TO JAIL FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Chichester and Tangmere, Paul Matthews, a 45-year-old resident of Cheshire Crescent in Tangmere, was convicted and sentenced to prison after police uncovered a significant collection of child pornography during a routine raid. The incident unfolded in late 2008, but the investigation and subsequent court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of criminal behavior that spanned several years.

On November 28 of the previous year, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Matthews' home, which was initially aimed at discovering illegal drugs. During the raid, the officers found a small quantity of cannabis, but more alarmingly, they seized multiple computer disks that contained illicit material. A thorough examination of these disks uncovered a staggering total of 697 indecent images, some depicting children as young as 18 months old. The images had been downloaded by Matthews in 2003, indicating a long-standing pattern of offending.

Following the discovery, Matthews was taken into custody and questioned by police on January 8. During the initial interview, he claimed that he had stolen the disk during a burglary and insisted that he had only viewed the images once. However, under further questioning, he admitted that he had downloaded the images from the internet after pop-up advertisements appeared on his computer screen. Matthews explained to officers that he had transferred the images onto a disk, which he kept for himself.

Matthews, who is a father of two children, has a criminal history that includes previous convictions for burglary and dishonesty. His actions have now led to a serious legal consequence. At Chichester Crown Court, he faced multiple charges, ultimately admitting to 28 counts of making indecent images of children. The court heard that Matthews' behavior was not only illegal but also deeply harmful, prompting the judge to impose a significant sentence.

Judge William Wood addressed Matthews directly during the sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. He stated, “I think you do understand that the gravity of these offences is not in the crime of looking at them but the crime other people commit by taking indecent images. That is what the court needs to stamp out. And that is why it is necessary in the interests of the public that a prison sentence is imposed when this kind of conduct reaches such a level of gravity.”

As a result, Matthews was sentenced to eight months in prison. It is expected that he will serve approximately half of this sentence before being released. Additionally, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure designed to protect the community and monitor his future conduct. Matthews' barrister, Piers Power, argued that his client was in a state of turmoil at the time, describing his personal circumstances as a “loveless marriage,” which may have contributed to his offending behavior. Nonetheless, the court's decision underscores the seriousness with which such crimes are regarded, especially given the disturbing nature of the images involved and the long duration over which Matthews had collected them.