COLIN MATTHEWS FROM NEWQUAY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN CORNWALL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community in Cornwall, Colin Matthews, aged 45 and residing on St Francis Road in St Columb Road near Newquay, was brought before Truro Crown Court to face serious allegations related to child pornography. The case came to light after Matthews' wife, Patricia, discovered his disturbing online activities and took decisive action by reporting him to the police.

Patricia Matthews, who had been aware of her husband's previous addiction to adult pornography, became increasingly alarmed when she uncovered evidence that his internet searches and downloads had extended into the realm of child exploitation. Her suspicions were confirmed when she found indecent video clips depicting children, which Matthews had downloaded from the internet. These videos reportedly featured minors aged approximately 13 and 14, and were classified on the Copine Scale, a legal measure used to assess the severity of child pornography. The scale ranges from level one, indicating the least severe content, to level five, representing the most serious and heinous material.

Matthews admitted to downloading these illicit videos, which further compounded his legal troubles. His previous conviction in October 2005 involved seven charges of creating indecent photographs of children, to which he pleaded guilty. During that earlier court hearing, Matthews disclosed that he had attended sessions with Sexaholics Anonymous, indicating an ongoing struggle with compulsive sexual behaviors.

In 2007, Patricia Matthews contacted the police after discovering a box file belonging to her husband containing printed stories about underage boys and girls engaged in sexual activities. During police interviews, Matthews claimed that any pornography on his computer had been deleted and cited his own history of childhood abuse and caring for an alcoholic mother as possible factors influencing his behavior. He also suggested that some visitors to their home might have abused him, adding a layer of complexity to his psychological profile.

Legal representatives for Matthews, including defense lawyer Michael Melville-Shreave, highlighted his lack of prior convictions and his health issues, which include emphysema, asthma, and strokes. The defense argued that Matthews' life was severely impacted by his health and addiction, noting that he spends most of his days confined to bed and that his wife continues to support him by doing household chores despite his living arrangements away from the main house.

Judge Christopher Elwen delivered a stern sentence, imposing a two-year community order on Matthews and placing him on the sex offenders register for five years. Additionally, Matthews is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 17, and authorities are granted access to his home at any time for monitoring purposes. The judge emphasized the severity of Matthews' crimes, particularly noting the level five classification as 'particularly revolting.'

Judge Elwen commended Patricia Matthews for her bravery and responsible action in reporting her husband's activities, acknowledging her support despite the distress caused by the situation. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and the judicial system in addressing the proliferation of child exploitation materials and protecting vulnerable minors from harm.