Cambridge Graduate Handed 32-year Jail Sentence for 'Warped and Sadistic' Paedophilic Campaign of Online Blackmail
The Telegraph UK, 25 Feb 2018
'Internet highwayman': Matthew Falder admitted 137 offences, relating to 46 complainants, which included encouraging the rape of a child Credit: NCA/PA
Cambridge University is considering stripping a paedophile of his academic qualifications after he was jailed for 32-years for conducting a campaign of appalling web based abuse against a string of vulnerable victims.
Dr Matthew Falder, 29, who obtained a masters degree and PhD from Cambridge, admitted blackmailing scores of men, women and children, into carrying out humiliating and degrading acts, which left three so traumatised they attempted to take their own lives.
The brilliant geophysicist had been described by a university tutor as one of the finest students he had ever taught.
But his descent into the depraved world of ‘hurtcore’ - where dark web users take pleasure in witnessing the physical and mental torture of others - caused a judge to brand him an “internet highwayman”.
After duping his targets into sending naked images of themselves, Falder then blackmailed them into committing increasingly depraved acts which included encouraging the rape of a child, forcing one girl to eat dog food, making another lick a lavatory seat and getting another to eat their own faeces.
Falder, who worked as an academic at Birmingham University, contacted more than 300 potential victims, but by operating on the dark web, he managed to evade capture for eight years.
He was eventually apprehended following a concerted international investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA), and involving the Department for Homeland Security in America and spies based at GCHQ UK.
The moment Matthew Falder was arrested at Birmingham University Credit: NCA/PA
Following the sentencing, Cambridge University said it was considering taking what is believed to be the unprecedented step of stripping him of his degree qualifications.
A spokesman said the decision had been taken because of the sheer depravity of Falder's crimes which had "appalled and distressed" the Cambridge community.
Nobody in living memory has ever been stripped of their Cambridge degree following a criminal conviction, and the spokesman said it was so rare they were not even sure what the process would be.
Judge Philip Parker QC said Falder had enjoyed every advantage in life, having been brought up by a loving family and benefiting from a world class education.
But he said despite never having actually met any of his victims, he had sought to assume total control over them, adding:
"Your behaviour was cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel."
The judge went on: "No-one who knew you above ground had an inkling of what you were doing below the surface."
Matthew Falder's computer in his flat was used to abuse his victims Credit: NCA/PA
Despite the appalling nature of the offences Falder's long-term girlfriend was said to be "standing by" him, according to his barrister.
The judge also said his parents had vowed to support him "on release" - though he would not be eligible for parole until he was 50.
Birmingham Crown Court had earlier heard how Falder had initially duped victims into providing nude images of themselves by posing as a female artist who wanted to use them to create life drawings.
Matthew Falder's litter-strewn bedroom was raided by NCA officers Credit: NCA/PA
Once he had the photographs he used them to blackmail the victims into taking part in increasingly degrading activities.
Falder also set up hidden cameras in publicly accessible toilets and at his parents' home, catching his unsuspecting victims on film.
He then used the footage to blackmail his victims and trade with other Hutcore offenders online.
Matthew Falder was watched by agents from the NCA Credit: NCA/PA
When he was arrested at the University of Birmingham, where he worked as a geophysics researcher, he told officers "what is it I've done", before correcting himself and adding "supposed to have done".
He then quipped that the list of suspected offences sounded "like the rap sheet from hell".
Will Kerr, NCA director of vulnerabilities, said police are increasingly concerned about what the emergence of hurtcore offenders.
Matthew Falder's conviction was described as a 'watershed moment' Credit: NCA/PA
He said: "It's a bit of a watershed moment this investigation for policing for two principal reasons, one it highlights a previously unknown level of very horrific offending - there were over 300 contact reports from Matthew Falder alone.
"Secondly, it also highlights the unprecedented level of resources that law enforcement has to put into these investigations - at one point there were 100 investigators working on this case using the broadest range of new covert capabilities to try and identify and catch him and his other offenders who were engaged in similar activity.
"Falder is not alone - there are many other users of some of these dark web sites and we are very concerned about it."
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Pedo Cambridge Grad Gets 32 yrs for Warped Sadistic Online Blackmail
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