KEITH MATHER FROM ROTHERHAM AND THURCROFT JAILED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES AND ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENCES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Rotherham and Thurcroft, Keith Mather, aged 49, has been sentenced to prison after a series of disturbing offences involving the creation, possession, and distribution of indecent images and videos related to children. The crimes, which spanned over two years from May 1, 2010, to June 17, 2012, were brought to light through a collaborative effort between UK and US law enforcement agencies, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in tackling cybercrime and child exploitation.

Keith Mather, residing on Elgitha Drive in Thurcroft, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on October 23rd to face charges that included eight counts of making and distributing indecent images of children. His admission to these charges marked a significant step in the legal process, and the court heard details of the heinous nature of his offences. Judge Peter Kelson described Mather’s actions as ‘profoundly grotesque,’ emphasizing the severity of the crimes committed.

As part of his sentencing, Mather was handed seven concurrent six-month prison sentences, reflecting the gravity of his misconduct. Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which aims to restrict his access to online content and prevent further offending. His name will also be entered into the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of two years, ensuring that authorities can monitor his activities and mitigate potential risks to the community.

The investigation into Mather’s activities was initiated after US authorities, working under the oversight of Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah Filion in Missouri, executed a warrant at the residence of a US national suspected of similar offences. During their investigation, they discovered an indecent video file sent from Mather’s email account, which prompted further inquiries. UK police were alerted to the case in July 2010, leading to Mather’s arrest and the subsequent seizure of a total of 46 electronic devices from his home. These included computers, external hard drives, cameras, disks, and iPods, three of which contained indecent material.

The authorities found numerous indecent images and videos stored across these devices, which formed the basis of the charges against Mather. The evidence was compelling enough for him to plead guilty to all seven charges during his court appearance last month. The case underscored the importance of international cooperation in combating online child exploitation, with law enforcement agencies emphasizing the role of the US authorities in uncovering Mather’s activities.

During the court proceedings, Mather’s defense lawyer, Dermot Hughes, stated that his client was a middle-aged man engaging in fantasies without any intent to act on them. Hughes argued that Mather did not take any steps to physically harm children, suggesting that his actions were confined to online activities.

Following the sentencing, Regional Operations Commander Dete Chief Supt Clive Wain praised the efforts of the E-Crime Unit, highlighting the significance of the intelligence shared by US colleagues. Wain expressed gratitude for the international cooperation that led to Mather’s conviction and reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to using specialized resources to identify and remove offenders from communities across Yorkshire and the Humber. The Police Central e-Crime Unit, a national body dedicated to addressing the most serious cyber crimes, played a crucial role in this case, with the Yorkshire and Humber hub actively working alongside other regional units.

In a related incident earlier in October 2012, Mather’s online activities took a more disturbing turn when he was found to have engaged in conversations about offering a young girl for sex to another online pervert. Police uncovered chat logs where Mather discussed the possibility of allowing a girl to have sex with a fellow offender, further exposing his disturbing sexual interests involving minors. The investigation revealed that Mather had sent indecent images of children stored on 46 devices, including computers, external hard drives, cameras, disks, and iPods, during a raid at his Rotherham home.

During the police search, officers recovered explicit chat logs in which Mather engaged in lewd conversations with other men. In one exchange, he was asked if a young girl was available for sex, to which he responded, “After me, yes.” Mather admitted to making and distributing indecent images of children and was subsequently charged with eight offences related to these activities. His actions prompted a six-month prison sentence, with Judge Kelson again describing the offences as ‘profoundly grotesque.’

Prosecutor Ian Goldsack revealed that in August 2011, authorities in Missouri arrested a man on suspicion of various sexual offences, and analysis of his computer equipment uncovered that Mather had sent a Grade 4 child pornography file in May 2010. Mather initially denied any interest in underage girls but admitted to unwittingly opening an attachment containing a ‘dirty’ video, which he then deleted. His defense lawyer reiterated that Mather was a middle-aged man engaging in fantasies and did not act on them, emphasizing that he was banned from using the internet or having contact with under-16s as part of his sentence.