KENT MAN MATTHEW BOWER SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN THE UK AND BEYOND
A man from Kent, identified as Matthew Bower, has been handed a substantial prison sentence of 13 years after admitting to a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children across multiple countries.The 52-year-old, residing in Swanley, was brought to justice following a detailed investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which was triggered by international cooperation and intelligence sharing, notably from the FBI in the United States.
According to court records and law enforcement reports, the case originated when the FBI received information indicating that a man in the UK was involved in paying for illicit images depicting a young girl being sexually abused.
This information led to further inquiries and ultimately to the identification of Matthew Bower as the suspect.
The victim, a 15-year-old girl in the US, came forward in early August 2017, revealing that she had been subjected to sexual abuse by a female family member over several months.
She also disclosed that photographs of her abuse were being sent to a man in the UK, who was paying for these images.
Following her account, FBI agents arrested the woman involved, who then provided authorities with an email address, a username, and PayPal details linked to the man she had been communicating with.
This crucial information was relayed to the NCA, which swiftly identified Bower as the individual behind the online activity.
On August 22, 2017, officers from the NCA executed a search warrant at Bower’s residence, seizing multiple electronic devices for examination.
Analysis of the seized devices uncovered chat logs and digital communications that implicated Bower in the criminal activities.
Under the username evo5_mat, he was found to have directed the woman on how to photograph and share images of the young girl.
One message explicitly read, “OK KINDA LIKE TO SEE BOTH OF U PICS, SO MAYBE WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW IS SHE FREE,” followed by a message indicating he had received 80 images and was expecting more.
The investigation revealed that Bower had received a staggering total of approximately 6,000 images over a six-year period, many in exchange for money, and that he had also solicited and received two live-streamed videos involving the victim between 2016 and 2017.
Further inquiries uncovered that Bower had encouraged others online to commit similar acts of child abuse.
Investigators identified a woman in Romania who had been abusing a child under two years old at Bower’s behest.
This individual was arrested in August 2018 and later convicted in December 2019 of rape and child abuse offenses.
She is currently serving a sentence of over eight years in prison.
In addition to these activities, Bower engaged in online communications via Skype, where he attempted to coerce children into sending nude photographs and performing sexual acts on camera.
Two girls, aged 8 and 15 from the United States, were identified as victims of his coercion, and both have been safeguarded by US authorities.
Initially, Bower claimed to officers that he had been hacked, but in October 2023, he pleaded guilty to 15 separate charges.
These included causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and producing over 1,700 indecent images of children, including Category A images, which are considered the most severe.
Jen Cruickshank, the Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, emphasized the danger posed by Bower, stating, “Bower is clearly a dangerous individual who has a depraved sexual interest in children.
For a significant period of time he actively sought people online, both adults and children, whom he could coerce into sending him abuse material for his sexual gratification.” She also paid tribute to the victims who courageously shared their experiences, which played a crucial role in bringing Bower to justice.
“The initial victim report was the catalyst for this investigation and ultimately led to us being able to identify Bower and ensure further victims were safeguarded,” Cruickshank added.
Highlighting the importance of international cooperation, she noted that the NCA works tirelessly to protect children and disrupt offenders worldwide.
The case culminated in Bower’s sentencing at Croydon Crown Court on January 25, where Judge Lowe handed down an extended sentence, describing Bower as a dangerous individual.
The court heard that the offenses occurred between 2008 and 2017, reflecting a prolonged period of criminal activity.
The sentence underscores the severity of Bower’s actions and the ongoing commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and bring offenders to justice.
