Matthew Graham, a former airport worker from Gateshead, has avoided an immediate prison sentence after pleading guilty to downloading nearly 1,000 child sexual abuse videos, including those of babies. The 21-year-old was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on 28 June 2026.
Details of the Offences
Police raided Graham's home on Stannerford Road in Crawcrook on 24 May 2025 after receiving intelligence that indecent videos were being downloaded at the address. Officers seized 15 devices, including three mobile phones. Forensic examination revealed a total of 940 child sexual abuse videos across two phones: 638 category A (the most serious), 147 category B, 155 category C, 48 prohibited images of children, and two videos of extreme pornography. The children in the videos ranged from newborn babies to 14-year-olds.
Graham admitted three counts of making indecent pictures of a child, one of possessing extreme pornography, and one of possessing a prohibited image of a child. He had no previous convictions.
Sentencing and Mitigation
Recorder Toby Hedworth KC sentenced Graham to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He also imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and required Graham to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.
The court heard that Graham suffered from a lifelong medical condition causing facial disfigurement, which led to bullying at school and social isolation. His barrister, Josh Hart, said: "It led him to withdrawing and spending huge periods of time alone in his bedroom. That, naturally, led to spiralling mental health and he struggled to cope. His social isolation led to him find socialisation online and him spending an unhealthy amount of time in chatrooms."
Since his arrest, Graham has sought help from Talking Therapies, Safer Lives, and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity that works to prevent child sexual abuse. Recorder Hedworth acknowledged Graham's age (18–21 at the time of the offences) and his difficult background but noted: "Regrettably, I find you were enjoying this material at the time."
