In 2020, 41-year-old Matthew Toms—of Dalmatia Road, Southend—was jailed for 11 years for a “vile” and “predatory” serial of strikes against children. The investigation established that Toms posed as a 14-year-old boy on Instagram to target two girls, aged 13 and 15, who were relatives of a former friend. The prosecution reported at Basildon Crown Court that Toms’ behaviour escalated from “normal” conversations to sexual incitement, and he was only unmasked after a victim struck his number into WhatsApp and his photograph appeared.
The investigation established that Toms was already subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following a 2015 conviction for possessing indecent images. During a compliance strike by officers in October 2019, Toms confessed to hiding a hard drive inside the arm of a chair in his bedroom for four years. Forensic strikes on the drive uncovered hundreds of “disgusting” Category A images and videos, alongside secret recordings Toms had made of one girl in the bath and another while she slept.
BREACH OF TRUST AND JUDICIAL SENTENCING
The court reported that Toms had used his proximity to the family to facilitate his serial predatory behaviour between 2015 and 2019. The investigation established that he carried out physical sexual assault by touching a victim over her clothes while she was asleep. The prosecution reported that Toms admitted to 12 charges, including voyeurism and inciting children into sexual activity, identifying a total abandonment of human decency and a grave violation of the life-safety of the victims.
Judge-led proceedings at Basildon Crown Court concluded in 2020. For his actions in Southend and the nature of the serial child sexual abuse investigation reported, Matthew Toms was sentenced by Judge Samantha Leigh to six years in prison with an extended licence period of five years, totaling an 11-year sentence. The investigation established that for his prolific serial strikes, he was legally mandated to the Sex Offenders Register FOR LIFE.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS (2020)
Based on judicial and Essex Police records as of 2020:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Sexual assault; Inciting children into sexual activity; Voyeurism; Breach of SHPO).
- Custodial Status: JAILED (In 2020, serving 6 years with 5 years extended licence).
- Forensic Profile: Hidden hard drive recovered with hundreds of Category A images and secret voyeurism videos.
- Offence Timeline: 2015 to 2019 (Southend-on-Sea).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active FOR LIFE.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced by Judge Samantha Leigh; investigated by Essex Police.
- Criminal Record: Dangerous serial paedophile; Bypassed police strikes for 4 years; Posed as a child online; Jailed in 2020.
- Origin: Dalmatia Road, Southend, Essex.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2020, Toms is managed as a maximum-risk dangerous predator under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Southend. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his serial use of fake social media identities to groom relatives and his calculated strike of hiding evidence within furniture—he is a priority for high-security detention and digital forensic oversight. Authorities reported that the 2020 conviction identifies Toms as a predator who prioritised his own perverted gratification over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of children.
As a registered sex offender for life, his details are permanently logged on the national police database to prevent future strikes. Authorities stated that Toms’ behaviour identifies an individual who demonstrated a serial commitment to child sexual abuse and voyeurism through a gross breach of trust. Any future attempt to strike against his notification requirements or bypass his extended licence results in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community from a man who used a “family friend” mask to hide his predatory serial strikes.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was able to “Hide a Hard Drive” in a chair for four years despite being under a court order, do you believe the law should legally mandate that “Registered Sex Offenders” must have their homes subjected to a mandatory “X-Ray Strike” by police every six months?
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.