10-year Sentence for Online Child Sex Offences

A 33-year-old Llandeilo man is serving an extended sentence of 16-years, with 10-years of that to be served in custody, following convictions in relation to online child sex offences.

Aled Owen Matthews has been convicted for the possession and distribution of over 4,000 indecent images of children, intentionally encouraging a commission of an indictable offence, and for breaching an existing Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Matthews pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, October 30, 2015. A reporting restriction was imposed at the original time of sentencing. That ban has now been lifted and Dyfed-Powys Police is releasing details of this conviction due to the seriousness of the offences and the length of the sentence given.

Matthews, who was already the subject of a Sex Offenders’ Prevention Order and Community Order, was found to be in possession of forbidden equipment. He was in possession of and distributing indecent images of children. He was also engaging in web chats with what he thought was a young mother of two young children but was actually an undercover police officer. The passages in the web chat were described as ‘quite appalling’ by Judge Paul Thomas QC.

At the time of sentencing Judge Thomas, who deemed Matthews a high risk to children, said: “You are an exceptionally devious, highly sophisticated and determined – to the point of being undeterrable – paedophile.

“Previous court orders and sentences have not changed your attitude or what appears to me to be an all-consuming drive to satisfy your sexual perversions. You devote a great part of your thoughts, time and energies to it to the exclusion of much else.

“I pay tribute to the work that has been done by the relevant police officers in this case. Obviously a lot of very technical and determined work has been carried out by them.”

Matthews’ conviction is the result of a complex and technical investigation conducted by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Digital Communications and Cybercrime Unit (DCCU). Officers and highly-skilled staff worked relentlessly using hi-tech investigative methods to gather evidence, which has resulted in this substantial sentence.

“We welcome the sentence given by the court,” said Dyfed Powys Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Gary Mills.

“Dyfed Powys Police officers have shown commitment, excellent service and expertise in bringing this dangerous individual to justice, which will help prevent further serious harm to children.

“This sentence should also serve a warning to anyone else engaging in such activity that there are serious repercussions and Dyfed-Powys Police will continue to work hard to protect children from such dangerous offenders.”