SEAMILLS MAN MATTHEW ABBOTT SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN BRISTOL

In October 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Matthew Abbott, a resident of Sea Mills, Bristol, who was convicted of engaging in heinous online activities related to the sexual abuse of children. Abbott, aged 34, was found to have participated in live-streamed child sexual abuse, a crime that shocked the local community and drew national attention.

Abbott’s dark secret was uncovered when authorities revealed that he had been actively involved in accessing and viewing repulsive chat rooms on the internet. These online forums were dedicated to sharing and discussing images and videos of child abuse, including live streams of children as young as nine months old being subjected to sexual violence. Abbott’s participation was not limited to passive viewing; he, along with other perverts, took pleasure in watching these atrocities unfold, and in some instances, he was able to communicate directly with the abusers during the live streams, as if he were present at the scene.

The investigation into Abbott’s activities was initiated by the National Crime Agency (NCA). In September 2016, NCA officers executed a search warrant at Abbott’s residence, which was located in Bristol. The officers also apprehended him at his workplace, a supermarket in Bristol, where he was employed at the time. During the search of his home, authorities seized multiple electronic devices, including a laptop and a desktop computer, which contained evidence of his involvement in these criminal activities.

Further examination of Abbott’s devices revealed that he had watched live footage of a four-year-old girl in Denmark being sexually abused. Disturbingly, Abbott’s engagement with this material continued even after the abuser in the footage signaled his approval by flashing a thumbs-up at the camera, indicating Abbott’s active participation and approval of the abuse. The young girl involved has since been identified and taken into protective custody, with authorities ensuring her safety and providing ongoing support.

Abbott was identified as one of several users involved in a chat room dedicated to sharing and discussing child abuse images and videos. During his time logged into this chat room, he viewed pre-recorded videos depicting the abuse of children as young as nine months old. The investigation was further supported by a US-based undercover operation, which ultimately led the NCA to Abbott’s doorstep. Prosecutor Jeffrey Lamb explained that Abbott’s online searches and activity demonstrated a disturbing attraction to child sexual abuse material, despite his claims of sexual enjoyment stemming from an attraction to an adult male abuser.

In court, Judge Mark Horton sentenced Abbott to three years in prison. Additionally, Abbott was placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to prevent any future offenses. The judge condemned Abbott’s actions, stating, “You took the height of sexual enjoyment over watching a young girl being raped by her father,” highlighting the severity and depravity of his crimes. This case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable victims from further harm.