The former general secretary of a journalists’ union has been jailed for sexual offences against three girls.

Matthew Myatt, pictured, was general secretary of the British Association of Journalists from October 2016 until December last year.

At the same time, he worked as a director of an aviation company based at Popham airfield in Winchester, where two of the offences took place.

The BAJ, a small union mainly comprising staff of the Daily Mirror, says it had no knowledge of Myatt’s “abohorrent” crimes.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court on 27 June, Myatt, of Cripstead Lane in Winchester, was jailed for four years and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

He had previously pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography, possession of indecent images of a child, sexual communication with a child and sexual assault.

The court heard that he abused two of the girls at the airfield, where his company was based, and engaged in sexual communication online with a third girl.

The abuse took place between 2016 and 2022, during which Myatt also coerced one of the girls into sending indecent images of herself to him in exchange for money.

DC Victoria Cobley, who investigated this case, said: “Myatt abused his position of trust to commit these offences, which have had a devastating impact on the victims.

“He persistently pursued three girls over a number of years for his own perverse gratification. Their courage in speaking out about what he did is extraordinary, and it is because of their bravery that Myatt is now in prison.”

The BAJ said in a statement: “Late on 5 July 2025 the BAJ discovered a Press Release issued by Hampshire and Isle of White Constabulary about former employee and General Secretary Matthew Myatt, who left the BAJ on 31 December 2024.

“The statement from police reported abhorrent crimes Matthew Myatt committed whilst he worked simultaneously as a director of an aviation company located at Popham Airfield, Winchester.

“The crimes he committed were at Popham airfield and had absolutely no connection with any of the work he carried out for the BAJ or its members.  The police have never made any enquiries regarding his work at the BAJ.

“Consequently, no one at the BAJ or connected with the BAJ had knowledge or could possibly have had any knowledge prior to the discovery of the police press release of the criminal investigation, its outcome and sentencing.

“We are shocked, horrified and sickened at this news. We support the police in their investigations in bringing the perpetrators of such crimes before the courts and are grateful to them for putting this news in the public domain.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”