Paedophile Ex-Deputy Head at Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s School Sentenced to 12 Years in Jail
The Ex-deputy headteacher at the prestigious Thomas’s Preparatory School, in south London has been jailed over his shocking crimes.
In a shocking case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Matthew Smith, a former deputy headteacher at the prestigious Thomas’s Preparatory School in south London, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a string of horrific sex crimes.
Matthew Smith, who left the school in November of last year was described as a “master manipulator,” paid £67,000 for sexual photos of children as young as seven.
Before working at the Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s School, Smith had taught at a school in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu. It was during his time in Nepal that he unleashed his horrific acts, preying on vulnerable children and exploiting them for his own gratification.
Matthew Smith, 35, recruited teenagers in India and groomed them. He offered to pay their school fees in exchange for sexual images. The court heard that on one occasion, he paid two young boys “thousands” for sexually explicit material.
The sinister nature of his actions is further highlighted by the fact that Smith used the Telegram chat system to communicate with individuals in the sub-continent, paying them £67,000 for images of sexual abuse of young boys under the age of 13.
The discovery of Smith’s crimes came about when authorities in the UK uncovered his activities. In November 2022, police raided his home in East Dulwich, south London, and found a cache of over 120,000 indecent images of children on his laptop, SD card, and mobile phone.
At the time of the raid, Matthew Smith was on his computer, with several tabs open displaying indecent images of children. Shockingly, some of the images were derived from his former place of work, an orphanage in Nepal where he had previously served.
Smith, who had no previous convictions, admitted to 17 counts of child sex abuse. At his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court, Honourable Justice Martin Griffith expressed the gravity of Smith’s offenses.
Honourable Justice Martin Griffith said: “I have to deal with you for your pleas to an indictment which contains 17 counts of sexual offences involving boys under 13 years of age. I accept on your behalf that you have made a clean breast of your offending and that you hope to find some way to prevent you reoffending in the future.
“You are just 35, have no previous convictions, and were employed as a Deputy Head teacher at an independent prep school in London. I say immediately that the offences for which I have to deal with you were not committed against any children connected with the school or indeed living in this country.
“You had gone to Chennai in India in India at the age of 24. You were there for three years then moved to Nepal where you worked at a school until July 2022. [A psychologists’ report] relates your reason for going to the subcontinent as being your love of the time in Chennai, adventure, and holidaying opportunities in the Himalayas. I am afraid your computer shows a much more sinister reason.
“The heart of this case is that you used the Telegram chat system with people who are believed to be adults in the sub-continent. You would pay money – in total some £67,000 – and ask them to provide images of sexual abuse of young boys under the age of 13. All of the offences took place within the timeframe of 2016 to 2022 and were brought to an end by the discoveries of authorities in the UK.”
Helen Dore, Senior Officer of the National Crime Agency (NCA), said: “Matthew Smith is a prolific offender and master manipulator, who coerced young men into abusing children on his behalf. He constantly sought out opportunities to gain access to children but was adept at hiding his sexual interest in them. He conducted his offending while working as a teacher and head of pastoral care – a deep betrayal of the trust placed in him.
“It’s clear Smith has absolutely no empathy for his victims and the harm he has caused them. He presents a very real and significant risk to children, but this investigation has ensured he will spend a long time in prison. The NCA is committed to operating online and overseas, working with global partners to ensure that children are safeguarded and offenders like Smith are brought to justice.”
A spokesperson for the school said: “We have been shocked and appalled beyond measure by this matter and are grateful for the work of the police and courts in bringing this man to account. Mr Smith’s employment at the school, which commenced in September 2022, was terminated with immediate effect when the school first learned of the charges against him in November.
“While the National Crime Agency has confirmed that none of the matters under investigation related to the school or its pupils, these deplorable actions constitute an unforgivable breach of trust, and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted or damaged by them. As always, we remain committed to the ongoing safety and wellbeing of our pupils and our whole school community.”
Parents at Thomas’s Preparatory School have questioned how such a predator could be employed at such an established school. They have demanded answers and want the vetting procedure improved so this does not happen again.
The case of Matthew Smith, the paedophile ex-deputy headteacher at Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s school, serves as a stark reminder of the presence of child predators in our society.
Smith’s actions have had a profound and lasting impact on the victims involved and the wider community.
It is crucial that schools remain vigilant in safeguarding children and fostering an environment of trust and security. The sentencing of Smith to 12 years in prison sends a strong message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated, and those responsible will face severe consequences.
