Matthew Bateman

Matthew Bateman, a 40-year-old IT worker at Ysgol Gyfun y Strade in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The case came to light in February 2021 when Bateman contacted what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on the Kik messaging app. Unbeknownst to him, the profile was operated by a paedophile hunter group as a decoy to expose potential offenders.

Prosecutor Megan Jones detailed how Bateman exchanged messages with the decoy account, discussing plans to meet for a drive in his car and a visit to McDonald's. He arranged to meet the supposed schoolgirl at Drefach Park on 23 February 2021. Upon arrival, he was confronted by members of the hunter group, who called the police. Dyfed-Powys Police arrested Bateman at the scene. During his interview, he provided no comment.

Following his arrest, Bateman contacted the headteacher at his school, admitting he had 'done something stupid' by speaking to an underage girl. He was subsequently dismissed from his position. A search warrant executed at his home in Crwbin, Kidwelly, led to the seizure of electronic devices. Forensic examination revealed 299 Category A indecent images—the most severe category depicting extreme sexual abuse—along with 255 Category B and 417 Category C images. Some materials showed children as young as two years old being abused, with downloads spanning almost a decade. Evidence also showed Bateman had shared a small number of images across all categories with others.

Bateman pleaded guilty to making (possessing) and distributing indecent images of Categories A, B, and C. He had no prior convictions. Defence advocate Matt Murphy argued that the conviction had profoundly impacted Bateman's life, resulting in job loss and the end of his relationship. He noted the offending was not continuous over the decade but involved a 'relapse into previous behaviour' during the Covid lockdown, and highlighted challenges Bateman would face in securing future IT employment due to restrictions.

Judge Geraint Walters emphasised the real harm to the child victims in the materials, stating they were not actors but actual youngsters enduring abuse. He expressed concern over Bateman's possession of such content while working daily with school pupils. The judge dismissed Bateman's claim of not deriving sexual gratification from the images, pointing to his attempt to meet the 14-year-old as contradictory evidence. With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas, Bateman received a 14-month custodial sentence, comprising eight months for possession and 14 months for distribution, to run concurrently. He will serve half in custody before release on licence. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period to restrict his internet access.

The case was reported by Wales Online on 1 September 2022, based on proceedings at Swansea Crown Court. No charges were filed regarding the communication with the decoy account.