Matthew Falder
{{Short description|British sex offender and blackmailer (born 1988)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Matthew Falder
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = 2017 mug shot of Falder
| birth_name = Matthew Alexander Falder
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|10|24}}
| birth_place = Manchester, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| education =
| alma_mater = University of Cambridge
| module = {{Infobox academic
| thesis_title = Seismic imaging of thermohaline structure in the Atlantic ocean
| thesis_url = https://idiscover.lib.cam.ac.uk/permalink/f/t9gok8/44CAM_ALMA21394543510003606
}}
| occupation = Post doctoral researcher
| criminal_charge = October 2017
Encouraging the rape of children
Blackmail
Voyeurism
Taking indecent images of children etc.
| conviction_penalty = 25 years + 8 years on licence
| conviction_status = Incarcerated
| motive = Sexual sadism
| conviction = Child abuse
| victims = 46
| date =
| time =
| beginyear = 2007
| endyear = 2017
| apprehended = 21 June 2017
| imprisoned = HM Prison Birmingham
}}
Matthew Alexander Falder (born 24 October 1988) is an English convicted serial sex offender and blackmailer. Between 2009 and 2017, he coerced his victims online into sending him degrading images of themselves or into committing crimes against a third person such as rape or assault. He managed this by making threats to the victim by saying he would send their family or friends degrading information or revealing pictures of them (which he usually obtained earlier by obtaining a false trust with the victim) if they did not comply with his commands. Falder hid behind anonymous accounts on the web and then re-posted the images to gain a higher status on the dark web.{{cite web |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2018-12-03b.587.2 | title=Part of Withdrawal Agreement: Legal Position – in the House of Commons at 7:05 pm on 3rd December 2018. | last1=Wallace| first1=Ben | author-link=Ben Wallace (politician) | date=3 December 2018 | website=TheyWorkForYou | access-date=5 February 2019 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015957/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2018-12-03b.587.2 | archive-date=7 February 2019}} Investigators said that he "revelled" in getting images to share on hurtcore websites. The National Crime Agency (NCA), described him as "one of the most prolific and depraved offenders they had ever encountered."
Falder pleaded guilty to 137 charges from 46 complainants,{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/16/cambridge-graduate-pleads-guilty-to-137-online-sex-abuse-crimes | last1=Halliday | first1=Josh | title=Cambridge graduate admits 137 online sexual abuse crimes | url-status=live | work=The Guardian | date=16 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016183434/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/16/cambridge-graduate-pleads-guilty-to-137-online-sex-abuse-crimes | archive-date=16 October 2017}} making him one of the UK's most prolific convicted sex offenders. In February 2018 he was jailed for 32 years and ordered to serve a further six years on extended licence. The Court of Appeal later reduced the term of imprisonment to 25 years, with an extended licence of 8 years.{{cite news |title=Dark web paedophile sentence reduced |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45875275 |accessdate=16 October 2018 |work=BBC News |date=16 October 2018}}
Early life and career
Falder grew up in an upper middle class family in Knutsford, Cheshire.{{cite news|last1=Wilkinson|first1=Damon|title='Warped and sadistic' paedophile Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/matthew-falder-jailed-abuse-paedophile-14308695|accessdate=20 February 2018|work=Manchester Evening News|date=19 February 2018}} He attended Kings School in Macclesfield, Cheshire,{{cite news|last1=Keeling|first1=Neal|title='Warped and sadistic' paedophile Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years|url=https://www.macclesfield-express.co.uk/news/local-news/dark-web-paedophile-matthew-falder-14309881|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Macclesfield Express|date=19 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh|title=Striking Gold|work=King's Colours|date=18 February 2018 |page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218035706/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh |access-date=20 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=18 February 2018 }} where it was reported that he had "excelled".{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Caroline|title='Sadistic' paedophile Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh|access-date=19 February 2018|work=The Guardian|date=19 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218035706/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh |archive-date=18 February 2018 }}
After school he attended Clare College of the University of Cambridge, specialising in seismic oceanography and earning masters and doctoral degrees.{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=John |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/cambridge-may-strip-paedophile-matthew-falder-of-phd-mh6r6sg9q |title=Cambridge may strip paedophile Matthew Falder of PhD|work=The Times|issue=72,463|date=20 February 2018|page=17|issn=0140-0460}}{{cite web|last1=Vernalls|first1=Richard|last2=McEnemy|first2=Rachael|title=Matthew Falder victim tells how she licked toilets and ate dog food|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/matthew-falder-victim-tells-how-14311873|website=Daily Post|date=20 February 2018 |accessdate=5 April 2018}} At the time of his arrest, he was working as a post-doctoral researcher and lecturer in geophysics at the University of Birmingham.{{cite news|last1=Cartledge|first1=James|title=Birmingham University academic Dr Matthew Falder led horrific dark web double life as '666devil'|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-university-academic-dr-matthew-13769821|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Birmingham Mail|date=16 October 2017}} Falder was well-liked in his peer group, and was described as being extroverted, funny and larger than life.{{cite news |last1=Harper|first1=Tom|title=Scientist unmasked as dark‑web sex fiend 'Evilmind'|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh|access-date=20 February 2018|work=The Sunday Times|date=18 February 2018|url-access=subscription }}
Sexual offences
Falder's offences date back as far as 2007, where he engaged in voyeurism by secretly filming his university housemates in their shared bathroom.{{Cite web |last=Roberton |first=Jamie |date=2018-02-19 |title=The scientist who became one of UK's worst paedophiles |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2018-02-19/matthew-falder-the-scientist-who-was-unmasked-as-one-of-britains-most-sadistic-paedophiles |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=ITV News |language=en}} He would later inform a housemate about his offending, which she laughed off at the time.{{Cite news |last=Harper |first=Tom |date=2018-02-18 |title=Scientist unmasked as dark‑web sex fiend 'Evilmind' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/scientist-unmasked-as-darkweb-sex-fiend-evilmind-90kwvj0zh |access-date=2022-07-04 |newspaper=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}
Falder's online offending was detected as early as 2009.{{cite journal |last1=Conterio |first1=Martyn |title=Darknet Blackmailer |journal=Real Crime |date=3 May 2018 |issue=37 |pages=75–81 |publisher=Image Publishing |location=Bournemouth |oclc=921875484}} Falder would usually pose as a young woman online and manipulated young children to photograph themselves in compromising positions and then offered the images over the internet.{{cite news|last1=Rodger|first1=James|title=Matthew Falder 'made victim lick toilet seats and eat dog food'|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/uk-world-news/matthew-falder-birmingham-crown-court-14262092|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Coventry Telegraph|date=8 February 2018}} In April 2015, the NCA discovered someone posting to the hurtcore websites under the name "666devil", who later turned out to be Falder.{{cite news|last1=Labhart|first1=Jessica|title=Matthew Falder: How global taskforce caught Birmingham paedophile|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-42921977|accessdate=19 February 2018|publisher=BBC News|date=19 February 2018}}
NCA officers arrested Falder in his office at his place of work on 21 June 2017. When they read out a list of the offences he was suspected of committing, Falder remarked that it sounded "like the rap sheet from hell".{{cite news|last1=Roberton|first1=Jamie|title=Matthew Falder: The scientist who was unmasked as one of Britain's most sadistic sex offenders|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2018-02-19/matthew-falder-the-scientist-who-was-unmasked-as-one-of-britains-most-sadistic-paedophiles/|accessdate=19 February 2018|publisher=ITV News|date=19 February 2018}}
Falder's victims numbered over 50, and it took over 30 minutes to read out the charges to him at Birmingham Crown Court. Originally charged with 188 offences, he pleaded not guilty to 51 of them; the prosecution accepted this, but they were ordered to remain on file.{{cite news|title='Hurtcore' paedophile's 100-plus offences|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-41640079|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=BBC News|date=16 October 2017}} Falder used various accounts on several websites to pose as a young girl or woman named 'Liz'.{{cite news|title=Paedophile victim: How I fell into Matthew Falder's trap|url=https://news.sky.com/story/paedophile-victim-how-i-fell-into-matthew-falders-trap-11258004|accessdate=20 February 2018|work=Sky News|date=19 February 2018}} On the dark web Falder used names such as 'inthegarden', '666devil' and 'evilmind'. Falder had seventy different online identities.{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/dark-web-paedophile-matthew-falder-jailed-for-32-years-11257478 | title='Warped and sadistic' online paedophile Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years | last1=Brunt | first1=Martin | work=Sky News | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219144141/https://news.sky.com/story/dark-web-paedophile-matthew-falder-jailed-for-32-years-11257478 | archive-date=19 February 2018}}
He lured people into taking photographs of themselves in humiliating situations.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-repulsive-world-of-hurtcore-the-worst-crimes-imaginable/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231045831/https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/59kye3/the-repulsive-world-of-hurtcore-the-worst-crimes-imaginable | archive-date=31 December 2019 | last1=Daly | first1=Max | date=19 February 2018 | title=Inside the Repulsive World of 'Hurtcore', the Worst Crimes Imaginable | work=Vice | url-status=live}} He blackmailed one person into raping a four-year-old child.{{clarify|Sources cited say simply that Falder "encouraged the rape of" this child.|date=April 2024}} Falder engaged in hurtcore, which police have characterised as manipulating others into performing acts of "rape, murder, sadism, torture, paedophilia, blackmail, humiliation and degradation".{{cite news|last1=Dixon|first1=Hayley|title=Cambridge scientist used Gumtree to target and blackmail children, court hears as he is labelled one of UK's worst sex offenders|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/16/cambridge-graduate-admits-137-online-abuse-charges/|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|date=16 October 2017}} One of Falder's victims was just 14 years old; Falder said online he would willingly "mentally fuck her up" and added, "I am not sure I care if she lives or dies."[https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/the-moment-twisted-cambridge-graduate-matthew-falder-was-caught-by-police/news-story/a584ae40f807a9909ddd0357566b4fe6 The moment twisted Cambridge graduate Matthew Falder was caught by police] Falder increased the pressure on his victims, at least four of whom attempted suicide. When one of his victims pleaded for the abuse to end or else they would kill themselves, Falder replied that the images he already had on them would be circulated on the Internet anyway.{{cite news|last1=Thomson|first1=Jayne|title=Dark web paedophile Matthew Falder jailed for 32 years|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/matthew-falder-paedophile-jailed-dark-14308468|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Birmingham Mail|date=19 February 2018}} Falder maintained that he could not be caught.
In addition to the National Crime Agency (NCA), the investigation to uncover his identity involved GCHQ,{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/07/gchq-helped-catch-hurtcore-paedophile-matthew-falder/ | date=7 February 2018 | last1=Evans | first1=Martin | title=GCHQ helped catch 'hurtcore' paedophile, Matthew Falder | work=The Daily Telegraph | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207190907/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/07/gchq-helped-catch-hurtcore-paedophile-matthew-falder/ | archive-date=7 February 2018}} US Homeland Security, Europol, Australian Federal Police, New Zealand Police, and the Israel Police;{{cite news|last1=Larner|first1=Tony|last2=Vernalls|first2=Richard|title='Worst of the worst' paedophile had secret cameras to film people in Welsh house|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/worst-worst-paedophile-placed-secret-14308752|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Wales Online|date=19 February 2018}}{{cite journal | journal=The Journal of Criminal Law | volume=84 | issue=5 | last1=Davies | first1=Gemma | year=2020 | pages=407–426 | doi=10.1177/0022018320952557 | title=Shining a Light on Policing of the Dark Web: An Analysis of UK Investigatory Powers| doi-access=free }} it lasted four years.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-42947475/matthew-falder-experts-on-pure-monster |title=Matthew Falder: Experts on 'pure monster' |work=BBC News |date=19 February 2018 |accessdate=2 March 2018 }} Will Kerr of the NCA felt tech companies gave less than ideal cooperation with the police during the enquiry. Kerr maintained accounts were closed down possibly preventing police identifying other victims and identifying patterns of offending. Kerr feared this may have delayed identifying offenders and wanted government action to compel tech companies to cooperate in the future.[https://www.channel4.com/news/ncas-will-kerr-on-matthew-falder-we-need-more-support-from-tech-industry NCA's Will Kerr on Matthew Falder: 'We need more support from tech industry'] The NCA detailed crimes such as blackmailing people into eating faeces, licking toilet seats and tampons and persuading people to eat dog food. They described him as "one of the most prolific and depraved offenders they had ever encountered".
Criminal charges and sentence
On 16 October 2017, Falder pleaded guilty to 137 offences against 46 victims,{{cite news|last1=Larner|first1=Tony|title=Brave victim of dark web monster: 'It was messages every day'|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/brave-victim-matthew-falder-reveals-14309009|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=Birmingham Mail|date=19 February 2018}} making him one of the most prolific sex offenders in British history. At Birmingham Crown Court on 19 February 2018, Judge Philip Parker sentenced Falder to 32 years in prison, and ordered him to serve a further 6 years on extended licence after his release.{{cite news|title=Dark web paedophile jailed for 32 years|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43114471|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=BBC News|date=19 February 2018}} The judge at the sentencing hearing described Falder as an "internet highwayman" who was "warped and sadistic" and whose behaviour was "cunning, persistent, manipulative and cruel." After sentencing, investigators released footage of his arrest and described how Falder "revelled" in the anguish and pain that he had caused.{{cite news|last1=Dearden|first1=Lizzie|title=One of Britain's most prolific paedophiles has been jailed|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/matthew-falder-latest-paedophile-jailed-32-years-sexual-abuse-blackmail-children-dark-web-a8217581.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/matthew-falder-latest-paedophile-jailed-32-years-sexual-abuse-blackmail-children-dark-web-a8217581.html |archive-date=12 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|accessdate=19 February 2018|work=The Independent|date=19 February 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/1293-depraved-hurt-core-university-academic-jailed-for-38-years | title=Depraved 'hurt core' university academic jailed for 32 years | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140237/http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/1293-depraved-hurt-core-university-academic-jailed-for-38-years | archive-date=12 June 2018}}
Ruona Iguyovwe, of the CPS, said,[https://www.cps.gov.uk/west-midlands/news/academic-who-tormented-victims-online-jailed-32-years Academic who tormented victims online jailed for 32 years]
Matthew Falder is a highly manipulative individual who clearly enjoyed humiliating his many victims and the impact of his offending in this case has been significant. He deliberately targeted young and vulnerable victims. At least three victims are known to have attempted suicide and some others have inflicted self-harm. There was a high degree of sophistication and significant planning by Falder due to his use of encryption software and technology in his electronic communication and the use of multiple fake online identities and encrypted email addresses.Prosecutors stated Falder lived a double life, a graduate of Cambridge University and Birmingham University researcher during the day and a sexual predator at night.{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/19/europe/matthew-falder-birmingham-sentence-intl/index.html | work=CNN | title='Sadistic' UK academic sentenced to 32 years in prison for pedophilia | last1=Berlinger | first1=Joshua| date=20 February 2018 }} Police officer Matt Sutton said,[http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/19/matthew-falder-forced-teen-rape-boy-4-girl-eat-dog-food-jailed-32-years-7324094/ Matthew Falder who forced teen to rape boy, 4, and girl to eat dog food jailed for 32 years]
In more than 30 years of law enforcement I've never come across an offender whose sole motivation was to inflict such profound anguish and pain. Matthew Falder revelled in it. I've also never known such an extremely complex investigation with an offender who was technologically savvy and able to stay hidden in the darkest recesses of the dark web. This investigation represents a watershed moment. Falder is not alone so we will continue to develop and deliver our capabilities nationally for the whole law enforcement system to stop offenders like him from wrecking innocent lives. I commend the victims for their bravery and I urge anyone who is being abused online to report it. There is help available.Falder appealed against his sentence.{{cite news |url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/16/paedophile-matthew-falder-who-encouraged-child-rape-challenges-32-year-prison-sentence-8041957/ | title=Paedophile Matthew Falder who encouraged child rape challenges 32-year prison sentence | work=Metro | last1=Hartley-Parkinson | first1=Richard | date= 16 October 2018}} On 16 October 2018, the Court of Appeal reduced the term of imprisonment to 25 years, with an extended licence of 8 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Matthew-Alexander-Falder-24000-1.law | work=The Law Pages | date=16 October 2018 | title=Criminal sentence - Matthew Alexander Falder - Court of Appeal Criminal Division - Lord Justice Holroyde, Mr Justice King, Judge Cutler CBE (Sitting as a Judge of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division) | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509122744/https://www.thelawpages.com/court-cases/Matthew-Alexander-Falder-24000-1.law | archive-date=9 May 2021}}
A spokesperson for the University of Birmingham said, "The University is shocked to hear of the abhorrent crimes committed by a former post-doctoral researcher."[http://www.heart.co.uk/westmids/news/local/birmingham-scientist-one-of-worst-uk-sex-offenders/ Birmingham Scientist One Of The Worst UK Sex Offenders]
The University of Cambridge stated after the sentencing that they were "actively pursuing" ways of stripping Falder of his academic qualifications. The university could not say if there was a precedent of a removal process for its alumni.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-42922778/matthew-falder-paedophile-with-rap-sheet-from-hell Falder's arrest video by the police]
- [https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/no-hiding-place-on-dark-web-for-criminals/ No hiding place on dark web for criminals]
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Category:21st-century English criminals
Category:Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge
Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham
Category:Criminals from Manchester
Category:English geophysicists
Category:English male criminals
Category:English people convicted of child sexual abuse
Category:People from Knutsford