MATTHEW HEWITSON FROM ADDLESTONE AND GUILDFORD ESCAPES JAIL AFTER DISTURBING WEBCAM AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Addlestone and Guildford, Matthew Hewitson, a 40-year-old man with addresses in both locations, has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious offences related to child exploitation and indecent material. The incident that led to his arrest began in February 2020 when police were alerted to the download of an indecent image at his residence. This discovery prompted a detailed investigation into Hewitson’s activities, revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior involving the exploitation of minors and possession of extreme pornography.

Hewitson, who initially claimed he purchased a device to 'film cats,' was found to have a collection of dozens of indecent images of children, along with extreme pornographic content, including depictions involving animals and a video featuring a 'life-threatening' act. His residence in Bracknell was also searched, uncovering these illicit materials. During police interviews, Hewitson admitted to possessing the indecent images and disclosed that he had set up a webcam in his spare room at his former home in Addlestone, Surrey. He explained that he initially installed the device to observe cats but later used it to record individuals undressing.

One of the most disturbing revelations was that Hewitson had captured a 14-year-old girl on camera while she was getting undressed. He subsequently engaged in sending her sexual messages, including comments such as, “you’re a stunning girl. Do you not get horny and want to do stuff?” The court heard that Hewitson’s inappropriate conduct did not stop there. When the girl turned 18, he approached her again, groping her at an event and asking if she was “horny.”

Throughout the proceedings, the court was informed that Hewitson possessed 20 images of extreme pornography, some involving animals, and a video that depicted a 'life-threatening' act. The prosecution, led by Alan Gardner, highlighted Hewitson’s troubling pattern of behavior, which included both the possession of illegal images and the sexual harassment of the young girl. Despite the severity of his actions, Hewitson cooperated with police, which the judge acknowledged during sentencing.

Judge Heather Norton addressed the court, stating that Hewitson had taken the recordings for his personal gratification and that the victim was horrified to learn of her images being captured. She described the messages Hewitson sent as “inappropriate” and characterized the sexual assault as “minor but distressing.” The judge expressed hope that Hewitson’s cooperation indicated potential for rehabilitation, although she emphasized that his actions had caused lasting harm to the victim.

In sentencing Hewitson at Reading Crown Court on Friday, May 7, the judge handed down a 14-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years. This means Hewitson will not serve time in jail unless he commits another offence or breaches the conditions of his probation. As part of his sentence, Hewitson is required to attend a sexual offences rehabilitation programme and complete 200 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, he was issued a ten-year sexual harm prevention order to restrict his future conduct.

Hewitson pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual communications with a child, sexual assault, three counts of possessing indecent images of a child, three voyeurism offences, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images. His case has left a lasting impact on the victims and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and law enforcement in tackling such heinous crimes.