In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that 31-year-old Matthew Tatton was serving a custodial sentence after being snared by a paedophile hunter group. Following a sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court, the defendant—of Allnatt Avenue, Wallingford—was jailed for his attempts to groom two fictional children online. It was reported that Tatton pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The investigation established that Tatton targeted two decoy profiles he believed belonged to girls aged 10 and 11 during January and February 2018. Thames Valley Police reported that the illicit communications took place via the Oasis and Kik applications, during which Tatton shared sexual images of himself. The prosecution reported that Tatton went as far as mooting a hotel room for a meeting, telling the 11-year-old decoy they would get to know each other before engaging in full sexual intercourse.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Tatton demonstrated calculated grooming behaviour by attempting to normalise illegal activity to a child. Oxford Crown Court heard that when the decoy asked if having sex at 11 was normal, Tatton admitted it was not but told her it would be fine as long as she did not tell anybody. The investigation established that although Tatton’s defence claimed he came to his senses and cancelled the hotel arrangements, his recorded intent to be gentle with the child due to her age proved his predatory mindset.
Judge Michael Gledhill QC presided over the sentencing on 22nd October 2020, stating that Tatton’s intentions were entirely clear despite the fact the children did not exist. For his actions in Wallingford and the wider Oxfordshire area, Tatton was jailed for a total of 40 months. The judge noted that the defendant’s attempts to ensure the child kept their interactions a secret was a hallmark of a dangerous predator, necessitating his immediate removal from the community.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Matthew Tatton as of April 1, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 40 months (Sentenced October 2020; custodial element completed).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2030.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active until 2030.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Oxford Crown Court, following a hunter group sting and police arrest.
- Criminal Record: Attempting to incite a child under 13 to sexual activity; Attempting sexual communication with a child.
- Origin: Allnatt Avenue, Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Tatton is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Oxfordshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the grooming of multiple children and the planning of a hotel room encounter, his management is a maximum priority for the Thames Valley Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his willingness to ignore the law and tell a child that sex would be fine if kept secret indicates a persistent risk that requires intensive monitoring by the MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) unit.
As a registered sex offender until 2030, Tatton’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his SHPO includes strict conditions prohibiting the use of unregistered messaging apps like Kik and mandating the disclosure of all internet-enabled devices to his risk management officer. Any failure to comply with these rules, any attempt to contact minors online, or any presence near schools in Wallingford or Oxford will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public.
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