Security Guard's Disturbing Collection Uncovered
A Windang man's disturbing collection of child abuse material has landed him behind bars after his former partner made the shocking discovery on his electronic devices and alerted authorities.
Matthew Mark Rigby, 33, faced Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday where he was sentenced for two charges of possessing child abuse material. This marked the first time the security guard had been taken into custody in his life.
Ex-Partner's Discovery Leads to Police Investigation
The case came to light in April 2023 when Rigby's former partner handed his iPad over to police after finding it contained sexual images of children. Officers conducted an initial examination that revealed an album containing approximately 7500 images, many of which were sexual in nature and depicted boys under the age of 16.
Among the disturbing content were images showing an adult man sexually assaulting a child younger than 13, along with explicit anime drawings of children who appeared to be under 10 years old.
Telegram Conversations Reveal Attitude Toward Illegal Material
In October 2024, police seized several devices from Rigby's bedroom in the home he shared with his parents. A preliminary check of his phone uncovered a conversation on the Telegram app with someone Rigby identified as a school friend.
During this exchange, Rigby discussed having to "mass delete" material because his former partner "felt uncomfortable with a lot" of what was on his phone and had handed one of his devices to "da popo".
Most disturbingly, Rigby wrote: "Ah beloved illegal videos I miss you" - a statement that would later be used as evidence against him.
When police arrested him two months later, Rigby declined to participate in an interview with investigators.
Extensive Collection of Abuse Material
In January 2025, detectives conducted a thorough review of a hard drive seized from Rigby's home and found approximately 350 videos and 700 pictures of child abuse material. Most of this content was classified as 'category 1' material, involving real children under 13 years old.
The most serious item in his collection showed the sexual assault of a very young boy, highlighting the severity of the offences.
Court Sentencing and Magistrate's Remarks
Magistrate Mark Douglass acknowledged that Rigby's crimes were not at the highest end of seriousness for such offences but emphasised the ongoing harm caused by the consumption of child abuse material.
"They'll be sexually assaulted and used in the making of photographic material and videos," Mr Douglass stated, noting that children continue to be exploited as long as a market for this material exists.
The magistrate accepted that Rigby's offending was "founded on maladaptive behaviours" and that he suffered from depression. However, he determined that a community correction order would not be appropriate and that imprisonment was necessary.
Rigby was sentenced to 16 months in jail, with the court taking into account his guilty plea. Magistrate Douglass imposed a non-parole period of 8 months, noting that Rigby would struggle in the prison population and had no previous criminal record.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences facing those who possess and distribute child abuse material in Australia, with courts taking a firm stance against such offences.
