Man found guilty of plotting sex attack on baby

Mathew Law is eighth person to be convicted as part of wider investigation into paedophile ring

Mathew Law was convicted following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court (National Crime Agency)

A man has been found guilty of plotting to rape a seven-month-old baby.

Mathew Law, 50, became an integral member of a paedophile ring, which used encrypted communication including TOR and the dark web to evade detection, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Following a two-week trial, he is the eighth person to be convicted as part of a wider investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Law, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to rape a child under the age of 13, first began communicating with a prominent member of the paedophile ring, Christopher Knight.

Knight, 38, was jailed for 24 years in 2015 after being convicted of rape of a child under 13, conspiracy to rape a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

The group also communicated with phone calls, texts and Skype messaging. This enabled officers to link them together and unravel their plans.

Luke Phillips from the NCA said: "Mathew Law is the eighth individual to be jailed since this investigation began in 2014. Today's conviction shows how determined the NCA is in its fight against those with a sexual interest in children and will leave no stone unturned in the relentless pursuit of offenders.

"If you are engaging with people online and watching and, or sharing indecent images of children, you will be identified and brought to justice."

Law was remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.

Other convicted members of the paedophile ring include Robin Hollyson, 34, who was found hanged in jail three months into a 24-year jail term.

Hollyson admitted that he filmed himself raping a three-month-old baby in what the judge at the time called one of the most horrific abuse cases on record.

John Denham, formerly named Ben Harrop, 53, was sentenced to 12 years in jail for conspiracy to rape a child under 13, conspiracy to sexually assault a child under 13, distributing indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

Matthew Stansfield, 38, was jailed for 14 years for conspiracy to rape a child under 13, breach of Sex Offenders Prevention Order (SOPO) and making/possessing indecent images of children.

Matthew Lisk, 36, was sentenced to seven years for conspiring to engage in sexual activity with a child under 13 and distributing indecent images of children.

David Harsley, 55, was sentenced to two years for conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 13.

Adam Toms, 37, was sentenced to 16 years for rape of a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13, administering a substance and possessing indecent images of children.

SWNS