Winchester aviation director jailed for child sex crimes

A former aviation director who abused his position of trust to groom teenage girls has been sentenced to four years in prison. Matthew Myatt, 57, of Cripstead Lane, St Cross, Winchester, pleaded guilty on April 24 to five counts of child sexual assault and engaging in sexual acts with children. The case was heard at Winchester Crown Court on June 27. From 2016 to 2017, Myatt groomed three children aged between 13 and 17 by coercing them into performing sexual acts on themselves and sending him images. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Myatt used his role as director of Airbourne Aviation at Popham Airfield to manipulate teenage girls, instructing them to inappropriately touch their chests. He made inappropriate comments, touched their chests, and on one occasion challenged a victim to flash her chest at a CCTV camera, saying, "I'll save that for later." Myatt coerced one victim into sending explicit photographs, some in exchange for money, with requests becoming progressively more graphic. One of the victims tearfully described the lasting damage caused by Myatt, stating: "I struggle to put into words the damage caused by Mr Myatt. I still remember being so fearful of my mum and dad finding out about the images I had already sent, that I was a failure and disappointment. The feelings of shame and disgust and guilt that I thought would never stop [...] He has caused a sense of self-loathing I don’t think I will ever heal from. The damage by Mr Myatt has caused me with his actions is irreversible." Judge James Newton-Price KC commented that the victim "blames herself and finds she can’t trust others, suffers with anxiety and is scared," adding that Myatt’s previous convictions and his role of trust were aggravating factors. However, his autism and health issues were considered mitigating. Myatt was sentenced to four years in prison, with the possibility of release on licence under certain conditions. A restraining order was imposed to prevent contact or proximity to the victims, along with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Additionally, a deprivation order was enacted for his MacBook.