MATTHEW SETTLE FROM ACCRINGTON AND BURY SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In August 2015, Matthew Settle, a teaching assistant with ties to Accrington and Bury, was handed down an 18-month prison sentence by a court after he pleaded guilty to serious criminal offenses involving a young boy and the possession of a vast collection of indecent images. The court heard that Settle had engaged in manipulative and predatory behavior, posing as multiple social media profiles to groom a 13-year-old boy. His actions included creating fake online identities to gain the trust of the young victim, exploiting the boy’s innocence for his own illicit purposes.

Investigations revealed that Settle had downloaded over 6,000 indecent images, many of which were highly explicit in nature. These images were stored on his devices, highlighting the extent of his offending. The authorities emphasized that his criminal conduct was not isolated but part of a pattern of exploitation. His past conduct included setting up fake profiles online and abusing his trusted position as a teaching assistant at local schools, which allowed him to manipulate and exploit vulnerable minors.

Legal proceedings underscored the serious harm caused by Settle’s actions, which shattered the trust placed in him as an educator. The court condemned his behavior as a gross breach of professional and moral standards, emphasizing the damage inflicted on the victim and the wider community. The sentence reflected the gravity of his offenses, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals in positions of trust who abuse their roles for criminal purposes.