A Swindon man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting offences involving more than 1,000 indecent images and videos of children.
Matthew Ely, 39, of Howse Garden in Rodbourne, appeared before Swindon Crown Court on 21 May after previously pleading guilty to a series of child abuse image offences.
The court heard the charges related to material found on Ely’s mobile phone between November 2021 and February 2025, including still images and videos.
Ely admitted three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and two counts of distributing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child.
He was sentenced to 28 months in prison, suspended for 30 months.
The court also ordered Ely to complete up to 35 days of rehabilitation activity, carry out 175 hours of unpaid work and pay £156 in costs.
In addition, he has been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.
Speaking after sentencing, Child Internet Exploitation Team investigator Beccy Scott described the case as one of the most disturbing she had encountered.
She said: “In my four years in this team, they were the most sadistic and degrading I have encountered.
“The forensic evidence clearly shows that Ely was actively engaging with others to trade child sexual abuse material. He is a dangerous individual, and his sentence reflects both the seriousness of his offending and the risk he poses.”
Wiltshire Police stressed there was no evidence to suggest Ely had physically created the abuse material himself.
Officers also reiterated that online child abuse is “not a victimless crime”, warning that the sharing and trading of such material fuels further abuse of children worldwide.
Information about reporting concerns relating to child abuse is available through Wiltshire Police.
