MATTHEW CORBETT FROM NEWPORT SENTENCED IN SHREWSBURY FOR CHILD INDECENCY IMAGES
In a case that has shocked the local community, Matthew Corbett, a 40-year-old former teaching assistant from Newport, was handed a two-year prison sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court after admitting to multiple serious charges related to indecent images of children and the solicitation of sexual services.The court heard that Corbett, who previously worked at a school in Shropshire, exploited his position of trust to target vulnerable students and manipulate them into sending him explicit images.
The criminal activities took place between June 2015 and July 2016, during which Corbett used an alias to communicate with students via social media platforms, notably Facebook.
After leaving his role at the school in 2016, Corbett continued to contact former pupils, specifically targeting young girls with the intent of exploiting their aspirations and innocence.
Prosecutor Sati Ruck detailed how Corbett encouraged several girls to pursue careers in modelling, providing them with a fake email address purportedly belonging to a modelling scout.
One of his victims, a 15-year-old girl who dreamed of becoming a model, was persuaded to send explicit images of herself, including underwear and swimwear photos.
Corbett then paid her approximately £80 for these images, further entrenching his manipulative tactics.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Corbett had admitted to police that he had sent around £100 to the girl, claiming that this act made him happy because he believed she needed the money.
He also expressed that he cared for the students and thought his financial support was a way of showing that care.
The investigation uncovered that Corbett had received images from other students as well, sent to the fake modelling scout account he had set up.
Authorities found a disturbing collection of images on Corbett’s computer, including 23 Category A images—the most severe classification—along with one moving image.
Additionally, there were 13 Category B images and one moving image, as well as a staggering total of 1,923 Category C images, illustrating the extent of his possession of illicit material.
Judge Peter Barrie addressed the court, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in Corbett’s actions.
He pointed out that as a teaching assistant, Corbett was entrusted with the welfare of students and their friends, and he exploited that trust to persuade a young girl to send intimate images under false pretenses.
The judge described Corbett’s actions as a calculated trick, aimed at manipulating vulnerable individuals for his own gratification.
Corbett was sentenced to two years in prison, with the judge underscoring the seriousness of downloading and possessing such images, stating, “Downloading images is not a victimless offence.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who abuse positions of authority and trust for exploitative purposes.
