WILLIAM BRYANT AND MATTHEW THAIN: SHOCKING PAEDOPHILE CASES IN CAMBERWELL AND CROYDON
| Red Rose Database
Croydon Camberwell Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the communities of Camberwell and Croydon, two convicted paedophiles, William Bryant and Matthew Thain, have once again found themselves at the center of legal proceedings, raising serious concerns about ongoing risks to children and the effectiveness of judicial measures.
Matthew Thain, aged 21, from Camberwell, southeast London, has a troubling criminal history involving the sexual abuse of minors. His initial conviction in 2010 stemmed from heinous acts including taking provocative photographs of a three-year-old girl and a ten-year-old girl, as well as collecting a disturbing collection of indecent images depicting children as young as four being abused, alongside extreme animal pornography. Despite these grave offenses, Thain was spared immediate imprisonment and was instead sentenced to a three-year supervision order, a decision that drew criticism from child protection advocates.
However, Thain’s criminal behavior did not cease with his initial sentencing. In July 2013, he appeared in court again, this time facing charges related to attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaching the terms of his sexual offences prevention order. The court heard that Thain had been in contact with a woman who had a young sister, and he had asked her to lie to police about his visits to her house. Evidence from his phone records revealed that Thain had also maintained contact with a former victim through calls and text messages, and had been in touch with another child he was legally prohibited from contacting.
During the proceedings, Thain admitted to attempting to obstruct justice and to two breaches of his court order. Judge Peter Rook QC expressed concern over Thain’s manipulative behavior, noting that such actions indicated a deliberate attempt to evade legal restrictions. The judge stated, “This is worrying because it is manipulative behaviour when he thought he was in breach of a court order. It’s covering up and it’s quite hard to argue that it doesn’t deserve a custodial sentence.”
Despite these concerns, the judge decided to suspend Thain’s five-month sentence for two years, citing his opportunity to pursue an apprenticeship as a chef. Thain was also ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision by the probation service and to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service. He remains under strict restrictions, including a ban on unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and a prohibition from contacting specific children named in the court order.
Further troubling developments emerged when Thain was scheduled to appear in court again for posting a Facebook profile under the alias ‘Dumbo Bray,’ which was believed to be an attempt to lure more potential victims. Prosecutor David Brown highlighted that concerns about Thain’s behavior had been raised as early as April 2012, less than two years after his initial conviction. Evidence indicated that Thain had been in online contact with a young woman over the age of consent and had formed a relationship with her, during which he was suspected of being aware that her younger sister was under 16. When questioned by police, Thain denied visiting her address or meeting her sister but later sent a message asking her not to tell the police about his visits.
Further investigations uncovered that Thain had been in contact with other minors he was legally barred from engaging with, exchanging more than 30 messages over two months in late 2011, including holiday greetings like “Merry Christmas.” His defense attorney, John-Paul MacNamara, argued that Thain’s actions were influenced by learning difficulties and past abuse, claiming he did not fully understand the implications of his online interactions. MacNamara described Thain’s attempt to obstruct justice as a “foolish” act carried out in a moment of panic.
The case of William Bryant, aged 48 from Croydon, also drew significant attention. Bryant was found to have stored over 1,500 sexual images of young girls as young as four, along with explicit images of women performing sexual acts on horses. His collection was discovered when he took his computer for repair. Bryant’s possession of such material led to a four-month jail sentence, a relatively lenient punishment considering the severity of his offenses. Additionally, Bryant had a stash of extreme animal pornography, which further underscored the depravity of his actions.
Both cases highlight ongoing concerns about the adequacy of legal measures to prevent reoffending among convicted sex offenders. The courts continue to grapple with balancing punishment, rehabilitation, and public safety, especially in cases involving minors and online exploitation. The community remains vigilant as authorities monitor these individuals’ activities, aiming to prevent further harm and ensure justice is served.
Matthew Thain, aged 21, from Camberwell, southeast London, has a troubling criminal history involving the sexual abuse of minors. His initial conviction in 2010 stemmed from heinous acts including taking provocative photographs of a three-year-old girl and a ten-year-old girl, as well as collecting a disturbing collection of indecent images depicting children as young as four being abused, alongside extreme animal pornography. Despite these grave offenses, Thain was spared immediate imprisonment and was instead sentenced to a three-year supervision order, a decision that drew criticism from child protection advocates.
However, Thain’s criminal behavior did not cease with his initial sentencing. In July 2013, he appeared in court again, this time facing charges related to attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaching the terms of his sexual offences prevention order. The court heard that Thain had been in contact with a woman who had a young sister, and he had asked her to lie to police about his visits to her house. Evidence from his phone records revealed that Thain had also maintained contact with a former victim through calls and text messages, and had been in touch with another child he was legally prohibited from contacting.
During the proceedings, Thain admitted to attempting to obstruct justice and to two breaches of his court order. Judge Peter Rook QC expressed concern over Thain’s manipulative behavior, noting that such actions indicated a deliberate attempt to evade legal restrictions. The judge stated, “This is worrying because it is manipulative behaviour when he thought he was in breach of a court order. It’s covering up and it’s quite hard to argue that it doesn’t deserve a custodial sentence.”
Despite these concerns, the judge decided to suspend Thain’s five-month sentence for two years, citing his opportunity to pursue an apprenticeship as a chef. Thain was also ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision by the probation service and to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service. He remains under strict restrictions, including a ban on unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and a prohibition from contacting specific children named in the court order.
Further troubling developments emerged when Thain was scheduled to appear in court again for posting a Facebook profile under the alias ‘Dumbo Bray,’ which was believed to be an attempt to lure more potential victims. Prosecutor David Brown highlighted that concerns about Thain’s behavior had been raised as early as April 2012, less than two years after his initial conviction. Evidence indicated that Thain had been in online contact with a young woman over the age of consent and had formed a relationship with her, during which he was suspected of being aware that her younger sister was under 16. When questioned by police, Thain denied visiting her address or meeting her sister but later sent a message asking her not to tell the police about his visits.
Further investigations uncovered that Thain had been in contact with other minors he was legally barred from engaging with, exchanging more than 30 messages over two months in late 2011, including holiday greetings like “Merry Christmas.” His defense attorney, John-Paul MacNamara, argued that Thain’s actions were influenced by learning difficulties and past abuse, claiming he did not fully understand the implications of his online interactions. MacNamara described Thain’s attempt to obstruct justice as a “foolish” act carried out in a moment of panic.
The case of William Bryant, aged 48 from Croydon, also drew significant attention. Bryant was found to have stored over 1,500 sexual images of young girls as young as four, along with explicit images of women performing sexual acts on horses. His collection was discovered when he took his computer for repair. Bryant’s possession of such material led to a four-month jail sentence, a relatively lenient punishment considering the severity of his offenses. Additionally, Bryant had a stash of extreme animal pornography, which further underscored the depravity of his actions.
Both cases highlight ongoing concerns about the adequacy of legal measures to prevent reoffending among convicted sex offenders. The courts continue to grapple with balancing punishment, rehabilitation, and public safety, especially in cases involving minors and online exploitation. The community remains vigilant as authorities monitor these individuals’ activities, aiming to prevent further harm and ensure justice is served.