Matthew Slate, 36, was the ‘global moderator’ of a child abuse material site and amassed around 57,000 illegal images of children – including more than 10,000 in the most serious category
Matthew Slate leaving Highbury Magistrates’ Court in north London(Image: PA)
A paedophile who was the “global moderator” of a sickening dark web forum set up to share images and videos of child sexual abuse has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Matthew Slate, 36, ran a site from his London flat which was set up “exclusively” to share child sexual abuse material. He previously pleaded guilty to 11 criminal charges.
National Crime Agency officers received intelligence in March 2025 that he had indecent images in his possession. Investigators identified his location and arrested him the following day.
The court heard that between April, 29 2024 and February 8, 2025, Slate was a “global moderator” under the username Loudechoes for a dark web site called Olympus.
On Friday, May 8, Slate was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment and a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Robert Lay, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said in a statement: “Slate’s depravity led him to become an active member of multiple pro-paedophile forums across the dark web. “
“He encouraged others to view, share and discuss vile crimes against children with no regard for the victims involved.”
“He benefitted not just through his own sexual gratification but through earning kudos from other members of these sites.
Slate was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment(Image: National Crime Agency)
Between July 20, 2023 and June 15, 2024, Slate was also said to be a “re-up doctor” on a dark web site called Neverland, where child sexual abuse material was shared.
Slate pleaded guilty to distributing more than 2,000 indecent images of children, some of which were category A, the most serious kind, between July 2023 and August 2025.
He also amassed around 57,000 illegal images of children, including more than 10,000 in the most serious category of abuse. The defendant accepted a further charge of possessing 55 prohibited images of children on March 15, 2025.
Slate pleaded not guilty to two counts of participating in activities of an organised crime group and one count of facilitating the sexual exploitation of children. Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell told the court it is not in the “public interest” to proceed with those charges, and asked that they lie on file.
Robert Lay, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, added: “The NCA is dedicated to bringing the perpetrators of child sexual abuse to justice and we will use the full force of our capabilities to uncover those operating in the shadows of the dark web.”
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