The accused, 30-year-old Matthew Smith, (Image: Evening Standard)
A British citizen Matthew Smith visited India between 2007 and 2014 where he groomed a network of child rapists. Later he asked these children to sexually assault kids and send him videos via the internet. After grooming the kids, Matthew first moved to Nepal and then finally back to the United Kingdom (UK).
The incident came to light after Law enforcement in the UK arrested Matthew from London for allegedly paying two teenagers in India a sum of rupees 65 lahks over five years to sexually assault boys and share images with him. The agency believes that the man is associated with a larger child porn racket.
As per the agency report, 34-year-old Matthew Smith a resident of East Dulwich visited India between 2007 and 2014 and was also involved in the children’s sexual abuse activities.
Claire Brinton, the special prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit said, “Thousands of images and videos were recovered from his devices which showed an appalling catalogue of sexual abuse being perpetrated on children. Smith offered individuals payments for indecent images to gratify his own sexual desires, which resulted in the horrifying abuse of young children in India,”
Matthew was arrested by the National Crime Agency in November 2022, after investigators found that he was sharing abuse material on the dark web. At the time of his arrest, Smith was online speaking to a teenage boy living in India, asking him to send sexual images of a younger child, in return for money.
Matthew, educated at Oxford and Cambridge was a former deputy head teacher of St Thomas’s Battersea. He also had dark-web sites and forums open on his computer which were dedicated to child sexual abuse. He was charged the following day with five offences, including causing the sexual exploitation of a child under 13, and remanded in custody.
Reportedly, Matthew worked at children’s NGOs where he manipulated and groomed minor children for sexual assault. He manipulated teenage boys in India and gave them tips on how to befriend minors, prosecutors said. In some instances, he would send the teenage boys videos and images of sexual acts that he wanted to be performed, filmed and sent to him.
He returned back to the UK and started working as a primary school teacher, rising to the position of deputy head teacher. It is believed that it was during his presence in India that he managed to build a network of child sexual abuse accomplices and kept it going after moving to the UK.
Officers recovered over 120,000 indecent images of children (IIOC) which Smith had saved on a laptop, SD card and on his phone. Matthew pleaded guilty to the initial offences in November 2022.
Last month, he was charged with a further 17 counts, including encouraging the rape of a child under 13, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and arranging the sexual abuse of a child.
He appeared at Southwark Crown Court today, Tuesday June 20, where he pleaded guilty to the additional charges. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on August 4, 2023.
Helen Dore, Senior Officer of the National Crime Agency, said: “Matthew Smith was a high risk individual and we moved quickly to locate, arrest and remand him so he could no longer pose a threat to children.
“Ultimately, we were able to prove that he was a prolific offender who manipulated young men to sexually abuse children on his behalf, giving them detailed instructions and financial reward. While conducting his offending, Smith worked at a school in Nepal, then became a deputy head teacher and head of pastoral care in the UK, so his offending is a deep betrayal of the trust placed in him.
“The NCA is dedicated to operating online and overseas, working with global partners to ensure that children are safeguarded and offenders like Smith are brought to justice.”
Claire Brinton, Specialist Prosecutor in the CPS’ Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit, said: “Matthew Smith’s crimes are particularly disturbing given his role as a primary school teacher entrusted with the responsibility of caring for and safeguarding children.
“Thousands of images and videos were recovered from his devices which showed an appalling catalogue of sexual abuse being perpetrated on children. Smith offered individuals payments for indecent images to gratify his own sexual desires, which resulted in the horrifying abuse of young children in India.
“This conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside the NCA and international partners, will work to bring to justice to those who sexually abuse and exploit children, wherever that abuse takes place.
“Our Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit was set up last year to prosecute child sexual abuse. Through the work of this unit, we are determined to help stop the devastating impact of these crimes on victims.”
Leave a Comment