Orpington man avoids jail for child communication offence
Matthew Nott received a suspended sentence and must register with police for 12 months.
Incident → evidence → outcomeMatthew Nott, 35, from Orpington, has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The offence occurred between November 30 and December 3 last year when Nott sent sexual messages to an account he believed belonged to a young girl.
The account was, in fact, a decoy operated by paedophile hunters. Court documents stated that Nott requested inappropriate photographs and expressed sexual thoughts about the child with the intention of obtaining sexual gratification. The hunters confronted Nott at his home on December 3.
Court Sentence
Nott pleaded guilty to the charge at Bromley Magistrates' Court in July. On September 3, the same court sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to register with the police for a period of 12 months.
In addition to the suspended sentence and registration requirement, Nott was ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £154 surcharge. These payments are to be made in monthly instalments of £50, commencing from October 1.
Questions this report answers
01What did Matthew Nott plead guilty to?
Matthew Nott, 35, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He sent sexual messages to a decoy account run by paedophile hunters between November 30 and December 3 last year.
02What was the sentence handed down to Matthew Nott?
On September 3, Matthew Nott received a six-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at Bromley Magistrates' Court. He was also ordered to register with the police for 12 months.
03What costs and surcharges was Matthew Nott ordered to pay?
Matthew Nott was ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £154 surcharge. These payments are to be made in monthly instalments of £50, starting from October 1.
Support is available without a police report
Find London services, specialist support and the rights set out in the Victims’ Code. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Find victim supportSend a correction or case update
If a hearing, charge or outcome has changed, send the court, case number and source document so we can update the record.
Contact the deskContinue the investigation
CourtsPaedophile Jeremy Wing dies aged 85 serving life sentence
CourtsJudge criticises CPS over £10,000 Rolex robbery case dropped after 11 years
