The lies and lies of the ‘Pink Lady’ child abuser

NOTE: This article was published on 24 October 2025Gemma Mattinson, the vile ‘save our kids’ Pink Lady with convictions for child cruelty, is a liar. She’s posted a sickening, exculpatory defence of the crimes that got her jailed, minimising the seriousness of the cruelty inflicted on the children she had in her care. This is…

NOTE: This article was published on 24 October 2025
Gemma Mattinson with partner Ian Barclay – child abusers

Gemma Mattinson, the vile ‘save our kids’ Pink Lady with convictions for child cruelty, is a liar.

She’s posted a sickening, exculpatory defence of the crimes that got her jailed, minimising the seriousness of the cruelty inflicted on the children she had in her care.

This is what she says:

Gemma Mattinson’s post minimising her offending

So, just to be clear, and to set the record straight, this is what the court saw and heard on the mobile phone video that was produced in evidence:

“The children were heard sobbing as the girl was ordered to punch, kick and hit the boy with a broom.

“The video, taken on a mobile phone by another person, shows Barclay dragging the boy across the floor and banging him into a radiator after he tried to hide from the attacks behind a sofa.

“The three-minute video left a number of people distressed after it was played in the Newcastle Crown Court.

“Prosecutor Glenda Turnbull told the court: ‘The defendants encouraged the children to fight each other.

“‘They were both instructing the girl how to attack the boy, telling her what to do, bringing the children together, providing her with plastic sticks and a broom to use against him.

“‘The video footage is distressing, the children are crying.’”

“The children were seen being pushed back together and urged to continue fighting despite trying to separate from each other.

“During the three minute clip Barclay can be heard shouting excitedly ‘Keep punching, go bang, bang, bang’ as the children scream in terror.

“Mattinson, heard laughing hysterically in the background, realises the scene is being filmed and says ‘If anyone sees that, we will get done for child abuse’.

“You put them up to fight each other as though they were toys in some Roman Amphitheatre for the sport of those watching,” Judge Roger Thorn said.

“Words fail to describe what we have seen on the footage. The distress of both children is apparent.”

“It beggars belief and you know from the revulsion in this courtroom there must be a custodial sentence. There would be public outrage if this was not met with an immediate custodial sentence.”

So the answer Ms Mattinson, is No – most people have never done any of these things. Nor anything remotely like them.

And if you think any of that was normal you should be kept away from children for the rest of your life.


Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

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Nick Davies

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Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

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Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

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Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

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