A convicted pedophile was allowed to take a week-long vacation to Greece while awaiting sentencing for a slew of horrific offenses against children and animals.
On October 19, Matthew Thompson, a 48 year old man from Barnsley, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to ten charges at Bradford Crown Court. But despite the sickening nature of his crimes, Thompson was given the okay to take a vacation to Greece ahead of his sentencing hearing in November.
Thompson was convicted of abusing two young girls, both of whom were under the age of 13 at the time. Five of his ten charges referenced child rape, with Thompson admitting to four separate counts of assault by penetration, and one of sexual activity with a child.
In addition to the assaults, Thompson was convicted on five charges related to creating child sexual exploitation material, and possessing extreme pornography depicting sexual activity with animals.
Despite pleading guilty, Thompson was allowed to embark on a week-long vacation to Greece prior to being sentenced. Barrister Gillian Batts had told the court on Wednesday that Thompson had a pre-booked trip to Kos that he wanted to go on, and that had already paid for it.
According to Yorkshire Live, Batts said that Thompson’s vacation would go from October 20 to the 27th. She stated that Thompson would register as a sex offender prior to his departure, and that after he returned to the United Kingdom he would “sign on” with the Barnsley police.
Despite calling Thompson’s crimes “extremely serious,” Judge Gibson declined to revoke Thompson’s bail and take him into custody, noting that Thompson “[had] entered honest pleas.”
Gibson also assured Thompson that he would get “proper credit for [his] guilty pleas in due course” once being sentenced.
The court made it a condition of Thompson’s continued bail to report to Barnsley police on October 28, the day after he is is scheduled to arrive back from his vacation in Greece, to prove he had returned to the UK.
Thompson’s sentencing hearing is set for November 18.
Reduxx is a newly-launched independent source of pro-woman, pro-child safeguarding news and commentary. We’re 100% reader-funded! Support our mission by joining our Patreon, or consider making a one-time donation.
