In 2023, the Offender Database recorded that Matthew McMahon, then 31, of Osbourne Court, Belfast, Antrim, was sentenced to prison for a series of predatory sexual offences involving the grooming and blackmail of young females. On 13 December 2023, McMahon appeared at Belfast Crown Court, where he was handed a five-year sentence, divided between two years in custody and three years on licence.
The investigation established that McMahon posed as a modelling agent on social media to target vulnerable victims, including a 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old aspiring model. He used deception to persuade them to perform sexually explicit acts on camera, which he covertly recorded. McMahon then used these recordings to intimidate and harass the victims, threatening to post the images online unless they complied with further demands. The PSNI launched an investigation after a 19-year-old woman reported that naked images of her had been posted online without her consent in 2014.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that a search of McMahon’s home in Osbourne Court, Belfast, in August 2015 led to the seizure of a laptop, hard drive, and iPhone. Forensic examination uncovered videos of his victims alongside 312 indecent images and videos of children. Judge Donna McColgan KC noted that McMahon had “played the system” by maintaining denials for years—claiming others had access to his devices—before finally pleading guilty to 23 offences in June 2023.
The judge noted the “profound impact” on the victims, one of whom spoke of the lasting damage to her mental health and the shame caused by his “nasty and planned” criminality. For his actions in Belfast, Antrim, the court determined that the offences involving the 12-year-old victim were “particularly abhorrent.” The prosecution stated that the pandemic and further defence applications had delayed the victims’ search for justice for several years.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Northern Ireland, Matthew McMahon was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Two years in custody, followed by three years on licence.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for 10 years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Belfast Crown Court after pleading guilty to 23 charges.
- Convictions: Intimidation, harassment, and multiple counts involving indecent images and videos of children.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McMahon is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the PSNI and the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Due to the planned nature of his grooming and blackmail in Belfast, Antrim, his management is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, McMahon must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Osbourne Court, Belfast, Antrim, for the next 10 years. Authorities state that his use of social media and internet-enabled devices will be a primary focus of his strict licence conditions upon release. Any breach of his registration conditions or the terms of his three-year licence will result in immediate arrest and a return to prison.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.