I stole a safe, and faced the dilemma of my life
Matthew Hahn found photos of child sexual abuse locked in a safe he'd stolen. But reporting this would mean admitting to his own crime, which could result in life imprisonment.
Matthew Hahn used to burgle houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to pay for a drug habit. One fateful night in 2005 he stole a safe from someone鈥檚 home, hoping that its contents would fund his next high. But he was horrified to discover that the safe contained evidence of a very young girl being sexually abused. Matthew felt he had to do something to help the child, but due to his past criminal record he knew he faced life in prison if he admitted to stealing the safe. His decision would have profound consequences for both himself and the girl鈥檚 abuser.
This programme contains details that some listeners may find distressing.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Rebecca Vincent
Picture: Matthew Hahn
Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Hahn
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True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives
