Matthew Falder: ‘dark web’ paedophile jailed for 32 years
Cambridge PhD graduate hid secret life of online abuse and blackmail
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Cambridge PhD student Matthew Falder was jailed for 32 years today after he was exposed as a prolific paedophile who blackmailed and humilitated his victims.
The “warped and sadistic” computer “whizz-kid” hid behind dozens of false identities on the dark web, gathering compromising information and images, and forcing targets to perform ever-increasing acts of depravity, Sky News reports. He “persuaded one victim to rape a toddler”, the website says.
The 29-year-old also set up hidden cameras in public toilets, using the images to blackmail unsuspecting victims, The Guardian says.
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“Four of Falder’s victims attempted suicide,” reports the BBC.
The Sun says the “twisted Cambridge grad paedo” was arrested after forcing a schoolgirl to lick toilet seats and eat dog food. He admitted 137 charges against 46 victims, including blackmail, voyeurism and encouraging the rape of a child.
Sentencing him at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Philip Parker said Falder had a “lust to control other people”.
The court heard that Falder led a double life, working by day as a post-doctoral researcher in geophysics at the University of Birmingham.
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The investigation that led to his arrest involved the National Crime Agency, GCHQ, US Homeland Security and police in Israel, Slovenia, Australia and New Zealand, Metro reports.
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