In 2024, the Offender Database recorded that Thomas Matthew was sentenced for the violent kidnap and assault of his partner. Appearing at Exeter Crown Court, Devon, the defendant—a carpenter of Halsdon Road, Exmouth—admitted to charges of kidnap, ABH, burglary, and assault. It was reported that Matthew engaged in a jealous rage in October 2023, tracking his girlfriend of 18 months to a pub after she went out with friends to watch the rugby.
The investigation established that Matthew’s campaign of violence began when he broke into the victim’s home, entered her bedroom, and damaged photographs of her children. Devon and Cornwall Police reported that after tracking her to a pub, Matthew punched a stranger in the head and marched the victim out by her hair. The prosecution reported that CCTV footage captured Matthew putting the woman in a headlock and punching her in the face before bundling her into his van against her will in Exmouth, Devon.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that the victim was so petrified that she jumped out of the moving vehicle to escape, fearing that Matthew would kill her if she stayed inside. Exeter Crown Court heard that the defendant had a history of violence and was the type of man who became dangerous when consuming alcohol. The investigation established that the victim has been left permanently traumatised, no longer feeling safe on her own following the burglary and kidnapping in Exmouth.
Judge Stephen Climie addressed the defendant’s pattern of behavior, stating that while he continued to drink, he was a danger to any partner. For his actions in Exmouth, Matthew was handed a three-year community order, having already served seven and a half months in custody. The judge noted that the sentence included 200 hours of unpaid work and alcohol abstinence monitoring, alongside a 10-year restraining order to protect the victim from further violence.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Thomas Matthew as of March 2026 was as follows:
- Sentence: 3-year Community Order (Sentenced 2024).
- Community Requirements: 200 hours unpaid work; 20 rehabilitation days.
- Restraining Order: Banned from contacting the victim for 10 years (Until 2034).
- Financial Penalty: £2,000 compensation to the female victim; £100 to the male victim.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Exeter Crown Court, following a Devon and Cornwall Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Kidnap; Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (ABH); Burglary; Assault.
- Origin: Halsdon Road, Exmouth, Devon.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Matthew is managed under local safeguarding protocols within the Exmouth area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the burglary of a family home and a violent kidnapping, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of domestic violence and his tendency toward alcohol-fuelled rage require ongoing vigilance by the National Probation Service to ensure he adheres to his abstinence monitoring and rehabilitation requirements.
As a convicted violent offender, Matthew’s details are logged on national databases used for public protection. Authorities state that his behaviour demonstrated a calculated and dangerous desire for control through physical force. Any failure to comply with his 10-year restraining order, any further reports of domestic violence, or any breach of his community order in Exmouth or the wider Devon area will result in immediate legal action to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed offender.
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.