EDWARD MATTHEWS BREACHES ORDER AND OFFERS TO SELL DRUGS IN PETERBOROUGH
In December 2019, Edward Matthews, a 25-year-old resident of Peterborough, faced serious legal repercussions after breaching a court-imposed order and attempting to sell drugs.The incident unfolded following a series of police visits and investigations that revealed troubling violations of his legal restrictions.
Matthews had previously been subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), which was issued at Peterborough Crown Court on November 8, 2017.
This order grants law enforcement authorities broad powers to conduct unannounced visits to the homes of convicted sex offenders and to search any electronic devices that may contain relevant information.
Such measures are designed to prevent further offenses and monitor compliance with court restrictions.
On August 1, officers from the Public Protection Unit (PPU) of the Peterborough police force executed a visit to Matthews' residence on Taverners Road.
During this visit, they discovered a mobile phone hidden beneath a duvet, which Matthews had failed to disclose during the search.
The officers then took him to Thorpe Wood Police Station for further investigation.
It was during this process that they uncovered additional evidence: two memory cards and five SIM cards concealed in his wallet, all of which Matthews had not previously disclosed to authorities.
Matthews admitted to breaching his SHPO on two separate occasions, specifically on August 2, during hearings at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
The mobile phone, which Matthews had attempted to conceal, was examined thoroughly.
The analysis revealed text messages in which he offered to sell cannabis, a clear violation of the restrictions imposed by his order.
Additionally, the device contained photographs of Matthews with his partner’s children, a contact he had previously denied having.
Further breaches were uncovered when officers found additional text messages on the phone from February 14.
Matthews had failed to disclose these messages during earlier visits on March 18 and May 20, which further demonstrated his ongoing non-compliance with the court’s orders.
The evidence painted a troubling picture of deliberate attempts to evade law enforcement and continue illegal activities.
Following these findings, Matthews appeared before Peterborough Crown Court on December 19.
He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order and offering to supply cannabis.
The court sentenced him to nine months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years, allowing him to avoid immediate incarceration under certain conditions.
The case underscores the persistent challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and enforcing court orders designed to protect the community from known offenders.
