STEVEN MATHIESON FROM CLEETHORPES JAILED OVER CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND HARASSMENT

In December 2012, Steven Mathieson, a resident of Wardall Street in Cleethorpes, was sentenced to a total of two and a half years in prison after admitting to possessing indecent images of children and engaging in persistent harassment. The case was heard at Grimsby Crown Court, where the court was told that Mathieson, aged 45, had been involved in a series of disturbing activities that led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

The police initially detained Mathieson on March 23, following an investigation into his online activities and harassment behavior. During the arrest, officers discovered that his laptop had been used just an hour prior to the detention to access child pornography. A thorough examination of his device revealed a disturbing collection of 118 indecent images of children, which Mathieson claimed in police interviews to be unrelated to sexual gratification, asserting that he had merely viewed pornographic images without specifically targeting children.

In addition to the digital evidence, the court heard about Mathieson’s pattern of harassment directed at a woman, which took place between March 1 and March 19. The harassment included a series of text messages and letters, some of which contained serious allegations about her. Prosecutor Andrew Bailey described the messages as part of a calculated, vindictive, and devious campaign. Furthermore, Mathieson was found to have left letters on the windscreen of the woman’s father’s car, intensifying the distress caused.

Mathieson’s history of harassment was also highlighted during the proceedings. It was revealed that he had previously harassed a woman following a relationship breakdown in 2002, indicating a pattern of abusive behavior. The court was informed that some of the messages and texts were particularly disturbing, reflecting a persistent attempt to intimidate and cause emotional harm.

Judge David Tremberg sentenced Mathieson to 15 months for possessing indecent images of children and an additional 15 months for the harassment, with both sentences to run consecutively, resulting in a total imprisonment period of two and a half years. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, especially given the nature of the images and the calculated harassment.

Richard Hackfath, representing Mathieson, expressed his client’s remorse and explained that Mathieson struggled to cope with relationship breakdowns. Hackfath also stated that the images found on the computer were not for sexual gratification and that Mathieson was seeking help from healthcare professionals while in prison to address his sexual proclivities. The case underscores the ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the importance of addressing harassment and related behaviors within the community.