In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement officials have apprehended Matthew Reilly, a registered sex offender, following an extensive investigation spanning the UK. The case unfolded after an indecent image of a child surfaced on the online messaging platform Snapchat, ultimately traced back to an account associated with Reilly.
The Investigation
The investigation commenced in January of last year, prompted by the discovery of the disturbing image. Authorities swiftly executed a search warrant at Reilly’s residence in Halesowen, where they arrested the 39-year-old suspect and seized his electronic devices for forensic analysis. During questioning, Reilly confessed to engaging in sexual conversations with girls via Snapchat.
Shocking Revelations
Forensic examination of Reilly’s phone yielded distressing evidence: indecent images of children and details of a Snapchat account through which he posed as a 15-year-old boy. Further analysis revealed that Reilly had been sexually communicating with girls aged 11 to 15 over a four-month period spanning from October 2021 to January 2022. Shockingly, he also exploited an online dating site to meet some of these victims, confirming their ages and coercing them with sexual compliments.
OnlyFans Scheme
The extracted data revealed an even darker aspect of Reilly’s actions. He lured some of the girls into explicit exchanges and even coerced one victim into performing a sexual act. Moreover, Reilly enticed them with promises of financial gain through the subscription platform OnlyFans, where they could supposedly earn money from sexual content.
Nationwide Impact
The investigation identified a staggering 40 victims across 27 different force areas within England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Collaborating with relevant police forces, authorities ensured the safety of these children and gathered crucial evidence to support the case against Reilly.
Legal Proceedings
On September 29, 2023, Reilly was re-arrested based on the uncovered evidence. He now faces a total of 52 charges related to sexual offences. In February of this year, he pled guilty to 18 counts of sexual communication with a child under 16, one count of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and five counts of causing a child under 16 to watch a sexual act.
He also pleaded guilty to eight counts of making an indecent image of a child. These were made up of one count of Category A – the most serious, one for Category B and six counts for Category C.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing indecent images of a child (Category C).
