Ed Matthews, a streamer known for his involvement in the 'Manosphere' and his appearance in a Louis Theroux documentary, has been jailed for 12 weeks. The sentence, handed down on August 19 at Basildon Magistrates Court, is for failing to comply with a community order imposed in June 2024.
Matthews was originally given the community order after he shared a video of himself assaulting a man he claimed was a paedophile. The sentence included a fine of £264, 150 hours of unpaid work, and rehabilitation activity days. He was convicted of assault by beating and using threatening and abusive language or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress in 2025.
The man Matthews was convicted of assaulting is scheduled to stand trial in 2028 for charges related to attempting to meet a child after grooming them.
In the live-stream incident that led to his conviction, Matthews ambushed the alleged paedophile, reportedly telling him to eat a spicy crisp or face arrest. Matthews then wrestled the man to the ground and held him down in the video.
Matthews, who is also a friend of streamer HSTikkyTokky, previously live-streamed himself confronting individuals identified as alleged paedophiles alongside a group described as 'paedophile hunters'.
Mentioned in the reporting, HSTikkyTokky called Matthews' sentencing "absolutely ridiculous." Matthews himself, in a post from jail, claimed he was on 'peak bang up right now, 23 hours a day because I’m high profile. All alone in my cell' and urged followers to attend his upcoming court date.
Earlier in 2026, Matthews was featured in Louis Theroux's documentary "Inside the Manosphere." During filming in Marbella, Matthews made anti-semitic remarks, suggesting Jewish people control the world with negative intentions. Following the documentary's release, Matthews questioned if the show was a 'hit piece' and suggested creating a similar piece about Theroux.