Man jailed after admitting taking an indecent image of a child
Mathew Hargreaves had held a position of responsibility at a Liverpool school
A man from Halewood who held a position of responsibility at a Liverpool school has been sentenced to two years and one month over indecent images of children.
Mathew Hargreaves, 48, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court this morning.
He was previously arrested and charged with making indecent images of children in Category A, Category B and Category C.
Hargreaves remained in custody on remand.
In September, he pleaded guilty to a further offence of taking an indecent Category C image of a child.
He was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must register on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.
Victim's statement
In excerpts from a Victim Personal Statement, one of the victims said: 'I saw the photo and it was a lot worse than I thought… it's made me feel sick to think about. I feel like I am on edge now, like I always need to be alert.'
The victim added: 'The actual image is disgusting and it makes me feel sick it was taken on his birthday, why has he taken that on his birthday? It had never crossed my mind it was taken on his birthday.'
The victim also said: 'How many people have seen it, why did he take it? My biggest fear out of them all is where he shared it, how many people - if he has - did he share it with? What was his intention with that image?'
Police response
Detective Sergeant Viktorija Clarehugh, from Merseyside Police's Online Child Abuse Investigations Team, said: "Despite his initial denials, we were able to prove that Hargreaves downloaded and was in possession of indecent images, including those in the most serious category. Concerningly, Hargreaves held a position of responsibility at a Liverpool school, but robust safeguarding measures ensured that he was immediately suspended from his duties following his arrest."
She added: "Hargreaves' insistence that these images somehow came into his possession by accident have been shown to be the desperate lies of a man who realised too late the consequences of his abhorrent crimes. His personal and professional disgrace is complete and I hope that today's outcome provides some comfort for all of those affected by Hargreaves' crimes."
Detective Sergeant Clarehugh also said: "Behind all indecent images is a victim of abuse. Possessing, taking or distributing such images perpetrates the exploitation of children, and we are determined to keep identifying and putting before the courts those responsible."