Matthew Falder: ‘dark web’ paedophile jailed for 32 years

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.

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.