HULL EX-SOLDIER MATTHEW HARRISON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN HULL
A disturbing case has emerged involving Matthew Harrison, a former soldier from Hull, who was found to possess and distribute highly disturbing and illegal images depicting young children.The investigation revealed that Harrison, aged 32 and residing on Station Road in Howden, engaged in these illicit activities over a span of five years, with the images and videos dating from 2016 up to the present year.
According to court proceedings at Hull Crown Court, Harrison admitted to multiple serious offenses, including three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of distributing such images, and one count of possessing an extreme pornography image.
The police conducted a search of Harrison’s residence on January 9, during which his mobile phone was seized for examination.
Analysis of the device uncovered a total of 64 accessible files, comprising eight images and three videos classified as Category A, which is the most severe classification.
These images and videos included distressing content involving girls aged between four and six years old being forced into sexual acts with adult males.
Additionally, the device contained ten images and nine videos in Category B, and 28 images along with two videos in Category C, indicating a wide range of illegal material.
The evidence showed that these illicit images and videos were created and accessed over a period of several years, with the earliest dating back to 2016.
The court heard that Harrison not only viewed these images but also shared them online, distributing three Category A images, including two videos, to others.
Initially, Harrison denied the allegations but later admitted to the charges during proceedings.
Recorder Richard Thyne emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stating, “The most serious Category A images included girls aged four to six years old being forced to have sex with an adult male.
You didn't only search for and access those images, you shared those images with others online.
Evidence was found of the distribution of three Category A images, including two videos.” In sentencing, the court acknowledged the long duration of the offending and the involvement of multiple children.
Recorder Thyne remarked, “There was offending over a long period of time.
There were a large number of different children involved.
It’s simply too serious to suspend the sentence.
The offense of distribution is too serious, and only an immediate sentence of imprisonment can be justified.” Harrison’s criminal history includes convictions for criminal damage in 2009 and for driving under the influence of drugs earlier this year.
During mitigation, Charlotte Baines highlighted that the illegal images were stored on only one device and that Harrison had shown genuine remorse and insight into the seriousness of his actions, acknowledging that these crimes were not victimless.
She explained that Harrison’s issues with alcohol and drugs began approximately five or six years ago, coinciding with his departure from the Army.
“Having served Queen and country, it left him with a lot of uncertainty in his life,” she said.
“He lost the structure in his life and found it very difficult to adapt to civilian life.” Harrison also faced personal difficulties, including problems in his marriage, which led him to distance himself from his child to prevent causing further issues.
Ultimately, the court sentenced him to two years in prison.
Additionally, he was subjected to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and is required to register as a sex offender for the same period, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
