IRVINE MAN MATHEW BELL SENTENCED FOR LIVE STREAMING CHILD ABUSE IN SCOTLAND AND PHILIPPINES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the criminal justice community, Mathew Bell, a 51-year-old resident of Irvine in North Ayrshire, has been convicted and sentenced for his involvement in the live streaming of child sexual abuse from the Philippines. This case marks a significant milestone as Bell is believed to be the first individual in Scotland to be found guilty of such heinous crimes involving the real-time online exploitation of minors.

Bell’s criminal activities came to light after a lengthy investigation that uncovered disturbing evidence of his participation in and facilitation of child abuse across international borders. The High Court in Glasgow heard that Bell directed and paid for the abuse of children in the Philippines, engaging in these activities from his home in Irvine. The court was informed that Bell maintained contact with female paedophiles in the Philippines, coordinating and encouraging the abuse of vulnerable children while watching remotely via internet streaming.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Bell paid a mere 93 pence to view a young girl being assaulted, highlighting the depravity of his actions. The court also learned that Bell was involved in instructing a man to rape an unconscious woman through live streaming, further exemplifying the extent of his engagement in these criminal acts. The judge, Lord Arthurson, described Bell’s crimes as involving “new depths of depravity,” emphasizing that the nature of his offenses was comparable to in-person abuse, but with the added element of remote orchestration and facilitation.

Bell’s activities were not limited to online viewing. Evidence recovered from his computer and hard drives included moving images of child sexual exploitation, which he had instructed others to produce through verbal and written communication with individuals in the Philippines. The investigation uncovered that Bell had participated in the sexual abuse of a young boy in April 2016, with chat logs revealing that he conspired with two women via Skype to prey on the child. Further, in March 2017, Bell was involved in the sexual abuse of a girl, again communicating with Filipino women who facilitated the assault, even promising to send money for the acts.

The court also heard that Bell had made payments for sexual services involving children, with evidence showing a transaction of 50 Philippine Piso (approximately 93 pence) during an abuse incident. Police cyber experts noted that Bell’s case was unprecedented in Scotland, as it involved live streaming of child abuse in a foreign jurisdiction, a form of cybercrime that had not been previously documented in the country.

Additional evidence revealed that Bell directed and conspired in the sexual assault of a woman in the Philippines in 2013, which was carried out while he was in Irvine. The police described this as an “agreed plan,” with Bell acting in concert with others to carry out the assault remotely. He also pled guilty to charges of making indecent photographs of children, with these offenses spanning from 2013 to 2017.

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick highlighted the severity of Bell’s crimes, stating that the images and videos recovered depicted the exploitation of children and that Bell’s instructions and payments facilitated these acts. The evidence also included footage of an unconscious woman being raped in the Philippines, which Bell directed via the internet.

Defense lawyer John McEloy acknowledged the heinous nature of Bell’s actions, emphasizing the significant impact on the victims and stating that Bell despises himself for what he did. Bell showed no emotion during the sentencing hearing and was subsequently placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. The judge sentenced him to nine years in prison, with an additional six years of supervised release upon his release.

Det Insp Susan Milloy expressed her condemnation of Bell’s actions, underscoring the profound and often unseen impact on victims, many of whom were in different countries from their abuser. She assured that law enforcement agencies are committed to pursuing such offenders relentlessly, regardless of the time it takes to bring them to justice.

Catriona Bryden, the procurator fiscal responsible for sexual offenses, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of Bell’s prosecution, noting that it was the first case in Scotland involving conspiracy and incitement to commit serious sexual offenses via live streaming to the Philippines. She emphasized that technological advancements and international cooperation are crucial in tackling the complexities of global cybercrime, ensuring that offenders like Bell are held accountable for their actions.