Ex-teacher given extra time in prison after more indecent images found

Monday 23 August 2021

A former Deputy Head jailed last year for possessing indecent images of children has had his sentence extended by 11 months after more photos and videos, and messages in which he discussed taking underwear from pupils' lockers, were discovered.

James John Matthews (43), who working at St. John’s Primary School before his arrest in December 2019, was given a prison sentence of two years and nine months last September.

This was for downloading 33 indecent images of children and sending messages that were of an “indecent and obscene” nature, including 13 in the most serious category.

However, two days before he was sentenced, Matthews’ now ex-wife found a MacBook Pro and a storage device while clearing out a room in their house, with the laptop stored in a toy box. She immediately handed both to the police.

Pictured: Matthews' ex-wife found a laptop hidden in a toy box and immediately handed it to Police.

Subsequent forensic examination revealed 172 indecent images and also evidence that he had distributed images, included some in the most extreme band, to others with a similar interests, including two known local sex offenders. 

In one message, Matthews identified himself as a teacher and discussed taking underwear from children’s lockers.

In another, he gave the username ‘bi-male paedo’ to an unknown person claiming to be a 13-year-old boy.

The devices not only provided evidence of a far greater number of images but also the period of known criminality, which doubled to a decade between 2009 and 2019.

Of the 172 newly discovered images, 82 photos and four videos were classified in the most serious ‘Category A’ by police analysts.

Pictured: Advocate David Steenson represented former teacher James John Matthews.

Records of Skype conversations also revealed that Matthews had distributed a number of indecent images to three addresses on six occasions over a two-month period in 2014 to 2015. 

Police found further examples of distributed files which had names which suggested indecent content but which could not be recovered.

Prosecuting, Crown Advocate Chris Baglin said: “While the contents of those files are unknown, it is clear that the defendant was willing to share material which, simply by the titles alone, one would not distribute casually.”

He added that Matthews appeared to be “more than willing to exchange material of the most extreme nature” with others. 

Defending Matthews, Advocate David Steenson said his client should not receive any additional punishment because the devices should have formed part of the original sentence last September.

He told the Royal Court that the laptop and storage device had not been hidden and Matthews had not mentioned them when interviewed by Police because he had forgotten about them.

The Police had been incompetent in failing to find them and they should have disclosed their discovery to the court before sentencing last year, said the lawyer.

Advocate Steenson added that Matthews had “made good his promise” in seeking help in prison.

“He had a legitimate expectation that at the end of sentence he could try to rebuild life,” he said. “Mr Matthews has been diligent in preparing for life outside of prison next year. 

“He plans to forge a new career path for himself and he is anxious to return to work to provide for his children and ex-wife. He does not have any concern for himself anymore; he simply wants to demonstrate to his children, former wife and the world at large that there is still value within him.” 

Advocate Steenson said that, if evidence found on the two devices had been presented to the court last September, his client may have received an extra six months on his then-sentence. 

However, he added that, in the meantime, Matthews had “worked hard to make good” and he should be released next spring, as he would be under the original sentence.

“Now is not the time to crush his hopes,” he said.

Pictured: Matthews' legal representative said the former teacher was making progress in prison.

Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, who was sitting with Jurats Charles Blampied, Rozanne Thomas and Jane Ronge, agreed with Advocate Steenson that the police should have disclosed the discovery of the devices to the Royal Court before sentencing last year.

But, Mr MacRae added that, although this was “regrettable”, it would not alter Matthews’ second sentence.

The new evidence not only increased the total number of images to 205, it also showed for the first time that Matthews had shared some of them with others, the Deputy Bailiff said.

Matthews will now serve a total of three years and six months in prison and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years from his sentence last year.

Speaking following Matthews' original sentencing, Police described the process of gathering evidence as "painstaking", adding that it took nearly five months of "intensive" work, which also involved coordinating with the Government's Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department.

A Government spokesperson paid tribute to the headteacher and staff of St. John's School following the sentencing, saying: “This has been the most challenging of years for St John’s School and we pay tribute to the headteacher and staff for their professionalism throughout, and the parents and carers for the support they have given to their children and the school community."