Cold-Blooded Murderer Sentenced Over Schoolboy’s Brutal Death
Matthew Mason was handed a minimum 28-year jail term after being found guilty of the savage murder of 15-year-old schoolboy Alex Rodda in Ashley, Cheshire.
Ruthless Attack in Remote Woods
The chilling details emerged at Chester Crown Court where Judge Everett described the killing as “carefully planned and ruthlessly carried out,” adding Mason showed “no empathy and a callous disregard” for Alex and his loved ones.
Mason, 19, lured Alex to a secluded wooded spot on 12 December 2019. There, armed with a heavy wrench, he delivered around 15 brutal blows to Alex’s head and body. Alex was found partially clothed the next morning by refuse collectors beside a country lane.
Before the attack, Mason and Alex had an intimate relationship, with Mason giving Alex money to keep it secret. After the vicious assault, Mason discarded Alex’s mobile phone, visited local pubs, and went home – all while Alex’s family and friends desperately tried to contact the missing boy.
Deceit, Desperation and Justice Served
Calls and messages to Mason went mostly unanswered. He returned to the scene in the early hours to move Alex’s body but failed to place it in his car before leaving.
A witness snapped Mason’s black Renault Clio near the woods around 6pm that evening. This clue led police to arrest Mason the following day as he drove near Telford, Staffordshire. Officers found blood on his hands and in his car boot, along with the wrench and Alex’s jacket.
Investigation Uncovers Shocking Truth
“Mason had murder on his mind as he drove Alex to his death under the pretense of sexual activity,” said Detective Inspector Nigel Reid. “Alex was a popular and much-loved boy. I hope this conviction brings some comfort to his family and friends.”
Alex’s family shared their heartbreak:
“Alex was a wonderful, loving boy whose life was cruelly cut short by Mason. He put us through pain by trying to minimise his sentence and tried to blame Alex. We thank the jury for seeing through his lies and delivering justice.
Detective Inspector Reid praised Alex’s friends for their courage providing key evidence despite their grief, helping to secure Mason’s conviction.
Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane added:
“This tragic death shocked the community. Thanks to the tireless work of the investigation team, justice has been served.”
The verdict brings some closure to a grim case that devastated Ashley and beyond.
