A paedophile spent thousands of pounds for six years directing the sexual abuse of children and paying for explicit images and videos.

Swanley pervert, Matthew Bower has been jailed for 13 years after an investigation found him to be paying for images of girls.

The 52-year-old would send money via Paypal asking for explicit photos and videos under different aliases.

He was caught after a 15-year-old girl, spoke to police in the USA in August 2017 explaining how a female family member sexually abused her which she photographed – all for Bower’s depraved sexual gratification.

She was abused for months with the pictures sent overseas for a sum of money, an FBI investigation found.

The woman was arrested and handed over an email address, username and Paypal details of the man she was taking photos for – all of which led to Bower.

He was arrested on August 22, 2017 and officers from the National Crime Agency searched his house and seized several devices.

Chat logs were recovered which showed Bower – under the username evo5_mat – telling the woman what he wanted her to do the victim.

He texted: “OK KINDA LIKE TO SEE BOTH OF U PICS, SO MAYBE WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW IS SHE FREE.

“SENT U 80 SO EXPECT A LOT”.

Investigations showed the woman had sent Bower 308 images of herself with the victim, as well as two “live streamed” videos between 2016 and 2017.

Additional chat logs from Bower actively showed him trying to coerce others into sexually abusing young children.

This included a woman in Romania who had been abusing a child under the age of two, as directed by Bower – the woman has since been jailed for eight years.

Bower also contacted people via Skype encouraging them to send him naked photos and perform sexual acts on camera.

Two of the victims - aged 8 and 15 - from the States were identified as being victims of Bower coercing them to send him indecent images. The US authorities have since safeguarded both victims.

He initially told officers he had been the victim of hacking, but in October 2023, he pleaded guilty to 15 offences.

These include causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Bower is clearly a dangerous individual who has a depraved sexual interest in children

It was eventually found Bower had made 1,700 indecent images of children, including category A images, across six years, and paid around £6,000 mainly for the abuse material.

Jen Cruickshank, senior investigating officer at the NCA said: “Bower is clearly a dangerous individual who has a depraved sexual interest in children.

“For a significant period of time he actively sought people online – both adults and children – whom he could coerce into sending him abuse material for his sexual gratification.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the victims who bravely spoke about the abuse they had suffered.

“The initial victim report was the catalyst for this investigation and ultimately led to us being able to identify Bower and ensure further victims were safeguarded.”

Sentencing him at Croydon Crown Court today Bower was handed an extended sentence, with the judge saying he had “no hesitation in concluding you are dangerous”.

The offences Bower pleaded guilty to were committed between 2008 and 2017.