MATTHEW POINTON FROM SPALDING JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND DISTRIBUTION

In October 2017, Lincoln Crown Court heard a disturbing case involving Matthew Pointon, a man from Spalding, who was convicted of possessing and distributing a large collection of child abuse images. The court was informed that Pointon had downloaded hundreds of photographs and videos depicting young girls being sexually abused, some as young as five years old. Despite receiving warnings from his internet service provider about the illegality of his activities, he continued to access and view these illicit materials over a period of several months.

Specifically, over a six-month span, Pointon downloaded a staggering total of 979 indecent photographs of children and 233 video clips, which collectively amounted to more than seven hours of footage showing children being sexually exploited. The police investigation revealed that these images were not only stored on his devices but also shared with others through the Kik messaging platform. During the police raid on his residence in Whaplode St Catherines, which took place on November 15 of the previous year, authorities seized a Samsung mobile phone that contained the significant collection of indecent images.

Prosecutor Phil Howes explained that the police had obtained information leading them directly to Pointon’s home address. The investigation uncovered that he had been actively communicating with multiple individuals online, exchanging and distributing these illegal images. When questioned, Pointon attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was acting as a vigilante, seeking to expose paedophiles and pass information to the police anonymously. However, the police found no evidence to support this claim, and their inquiries revealed that he had engaged in conversations with others about young girls, indicating a sexual interest in minors.

Furthermore, there was no record of Pointon reporting any of his findings or concerns to law enforcement, which cast doubt on his claimed intentions. The court was told that his explanation was considered