MATTHEW DOWNING SENTENCED IN GOMSHALL FOR SEX OFFENCES AND SHPO BREACHES NEAR DOVER

Matthew Downing, a convicted sex offender from Dover, has been handed a prison sentence of five years and three months after authorities tracked him down approximately 100 miles away from his home. The 25-year-old offender, who had previously been convicted of crimes involving the creation of indecent images of children, was under strict supervision through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued in January 2022. This court order imposed rigorous restrictions on his internet usage, requiring him to notify Kent Police before using any electronic device and permitting monitoring software to be installed to oversee his online activities.

Despite these legal restrictions, investigations revealed that Downing was using electronic devices without proper authorization as recently as February 2025. This breach of the court order prompted authorities to intensify their efforts to locate him. When officers from the MOSOVO Targeting Team could not find him at his residence on Salisbury Road in Dover, they treated him as a missing sex offender. Their efforts led them to Gomshall, Surrey, where they discovered Downing sleeping in a newly purchased car. This discovery was part of a broader investigation into his whereabouts and activities.

During questioning, Downing refused to cooperate and answer questions posed by the officers. He was subsequently charged with a total of 13 offences, including 10 breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. These breaches involved his use of an anonymous web browser, online storage services, a social media application with disappearing messages, and his failure to notify authorities about his use of a smartphone, laptop, and virtual computers. Further investigations uncovered that he had accessed the dark web to view and make indecent images of children, and he also failed to register his usernames on various dating apps, violating notification requirements.

Downing pleaded guilty to all charges in court. His sentencing took place at Canterbury Crown Court, where he received additional sentences for unrelated offences. Detective Constable Marie-Anne Boulton highlighted the ongoing threat posed by offenders like Downing, emphasizing the importance of strict enforcement of court orders. She stated, 'Matthew Downing has repeatedly demonstrated that he cannot be trusted to access the internet without being complicit in the sexual abuse of children whose images he views and shares online. Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are crucial in reducing the risk offenders like Downing pose after their release, and enforcing them is a responsibility we take very seriously.'

Officers from the specialist team were able to locate Downing in Gomshall, Surrey, despite his attempt to hide by fleeing from Dover. Their swift action ensured that he was brought to justice, and as a result, he will serve additional time behind bars. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to monitor and apprehend individuals who pose a significant risk to children and the community.