Cambridge graduate Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years for abusing children online

A PAEDOPHILE lecturer who blackmailed vulnerable victims with "warped and sadistic" demands was yesterday jailed for 32 years. Cambridge university graduate Matthew Falder, 29, admitted 137 offences, including voyeurism, encouraging child rape and sharing images showing the abuse of a new-born.

Matthew FalderPA

Matthew Falder's motivation was power

The twisted predator manipulated victims "behind a computer screen" by duping them into providing nude images and personal details.

He shared the depraved images on the "Dark Web" - a secret part of the internet - for other sick users.

Falder approached 300 people worldwide and the court heard of horrific incidents involving 46 victims, male and female, including teenagers.

Humiliating His primary motivation was for power and control, inflicting suffering and humiliation, said a senior police officer.

Falder coerced male and female victims into producing "increasingly severe selfgenerated indecent images of themselves".

One girl was ordered to eat dog food.

Falder duped people, who were advertising for babysitting or dog-walking jobs on online message boards, into providing nude images by posing as a female artist who wanted to use them.

The geophysics lecturer at Birmingham university was caught by an international inquiry led by the National Crime Agency.

He was arrested in June last year after four traumatised victims, who had been tricked into sending humiliating images, threatened or attempted to kill themselves.

Birmingham Crown Court was told Falder's "tale of everincreasing depravity".

Matthew FalderPA

The twisted predator manipulated victims "behind a computer screen"

Matthew FalderPA

The unprecedented operation to catch Falder involved British spies and worldwide law enforcement

Judge Philip Parker QC branded him an "internet highwayman" who targeted 46 victims.

"You wanted to assume total control over your victims," he said. "Your behaviour was cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel."

He added: "As for your equally extraordinary sexual offending - no one who knew you...had an inkling of what you were doing below the surface."

Anguish Referring to the victims, he said: "The damage is ongoing.

Matthew FalderPA

shared the depraved images on the "Dark Web" for other sick users

"For these individuals it will never end, knowing the abuse caused by you still exists in other unknown persons' computers."

The judge said Falder was dangerous and he will spend six years on licence when he leaves prison.

He said: "These sentencing remarks under-play your relentless, obsessive desire to continue committing offences."

Cambridge university said it was "appalled" at the crimes and is now looking at stripping Falder of his qualifications.

Matthew FalderPA

Falder, of Birmingham, committed his offences over nearly 10 years.

Matthew FalderPA

Matthew Falder, 29, admitted 137 offences, including voyeurism, encouraging child rape

The unprecedented operation to catch Falder, who used specialist software to hide his online accounts, was aided by Britain's GCHQ spy centre, the United States Homeland Security Department and law enforcement bodies in Israel and Australia.

Falder, of Birmingham, committed his offences over nearly 10 years.

His long-term girlfriend is said to be "standing by" him and the judge said his parents would support him "on release", although he will not be eligible for parole until he is 50.

National Crime Agency senior investigator Matt Sutton said: "I've never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain. Falder revelled in it."

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