By Sammie Jones-
The teenage son of a millionaire farmer has been sentenced to life for murdering his 15-year-old lover in a ‘ferocious and merciless attack’ to stop the schoolboy exposing their sexual affair to his girlfriend.
Matthew Mason, 20, will serve a minimum of 28 years in prison after being convicted of the pre-meditated murder of 15-year-old Alex Rodda at Chester Crown Court earlier this month.
During the trial, the court heard Mason lured Alex Rodda to remote woodland near the village of Ashley in Cheshire with the promise of sex before beating him to death with a wrench.
Mason, who was 18 at the time, had been involved in an intimate sexual relationship with Alex, but the 15-year-old allegedly threatened to expose their affair after finding out Mason had been dating a girl for two years, the court heard.
In the week before the murder, Mason made internet searches for phrases including ‘what would happen if you kicked someone down the stairs’, ‘everyday poison’ and ‘The mysteries of Cheshire unsolved deaths of missing people’.
Alex’s semi-naked body was found by refuse collectors on December 13, 20
19. His head and body had suffered at least 15 blows.
Sentencing Mason to a life term, the Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett told him: ‘This was a pre-meditated murder, carefully planned and, in my judgment, ruthlessly carried out showing no empathy for your victim and a callous disregard for his family and friends.’
Mason dragged Alex’s body to the track at the side of the road in an attempt to put him inside his car. After failing, he drove away. Mason had dried blood on his hands and inside his car was a bin bag with his blood-stained green fleece, the wrench and Alex’s large padded jacket
‘When you lose your child in the most horrific and brutal circumstances, as parents you really do experience hell.’
After the 20-year-old was found guilty of murder earlier this month, Alex’s family said: ‘We have never come across a more selfish, cold and calculating person.’
Mason admitted hitting Alex with the wrench but denied murder, arguing he acted in self-defence and that he had lost control after being provoked.
Flirty
The trial heard Alex had contacted Mason’s then girlfriend, Caitlyn Lancashire, in November 2019 and told her he had been sending ‘flirty’ messages, and an explicit picture and video.
Mason denied the allegations to his girlfriend but began making payments to Alex’s bank account at around the same time.
By the time of Alex’s death, Mason had transferred more than £2,200 and was asking friends and family to borrow money, the court heard.
Mason, who lived with his family on a farm near Knutsford, admitted having sex with Alex but said he thought it was ‘wrong’.
The agricultural engineering student, who was involved in the Young Farmer’s group, said he was straight but began questioning his sexuality following messages from Alex.
On December 12, 2019, Mason picked up Alex from outside his house and drove him to a secluded woodland area outside Ashley, near Altrincham, prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC told jurors.
He beat the popular schoolboy to death with a large metal wrench in what the pathologist described as ‘a violent, repetitive assault.’
Mason stayed with Alex’s body for around an hour before leaving the area and going to a friend’s outhouse to clean himself up.
He then went to two different pubs where he was seen on CCTV having a pint with friends and sending a Snapchat selfie to his group of friends of him smiling, which was shown to the court.
At around 2am, Mason drove back to the secluded spot and attempted to move Alex’s body by dragging it from the woodland. After moving his body 20m, he gave up and drove home.
In a victim impact statement read in court today, Alex’s father, Adam Rodda Snr, said: ‘I will never get the chance to see him experience things in life that we all take for granted; having a loving relationship, getting married, having children, learning to drive and owning a car – something he was particular looking forward to.
‘I am personally devastated for my poor boy feeling scared and alone before his death.
‘I will never know what happened. I feel like I failed to protect my beautiful boy and I will never get over that feeling.’
Judge Steven Everett told Mr Rodda: ‘It’s not your fault. There is only one person at fault here and it’s not you.
Lisa Rodda, Alex’s mother said: ‘Those who have had a child can only know the joy you experience by having that child of your own. It’s unconditional love.
‘They become the biggest treasure in your life.
‘When you lose your child in the most horrific and brutal circumstances, as parents you really do experience hell.’
In the hours after his murder, Alex’s mother was becoming increasingly concerned when he did not return home and she made numerous attempts to ring his phone but the calls would not connect.
She rang a number of his friends, who knew he had formed a relationship with Mason so messaged him over two hours.
Alex’s parents today released a heart-breaking video of their 15-year-old son
In a statement, his family said: ‘Our son Alex was a wonderful, gentle, loving, kind, caring, respectful boy’.
Alex’s parents released a video of their 15-year-old son. In a statement, his family said: ‘Our son Alex was a wonderful, gentle, loving, kind, caring, respectful boy who loved life and lived life to the full. His precious life was cut short all too soon at the hands of Matthew Mason’
Detective Inspector Nigel Reid, from Cheshire Police’s Major Investigation Team, said: ‘It has been a painstaking investigation involving a dedicated team of detectives.
‘They have worked extremely hard to gather evidence to show the true extent of the relationship between Mason and Alex and the true picture of what happened that night.
Grief-stricken family slam ‘selfish, cold and calculating’ teen killer
In a statement, Alex’s family said: ‘Our son Alex was a wonderful, gentle, loving, kind, caring, respectful boy who loved life and lived life to the full. His precious life was cut short all too soon at the hands of Matthew Mason.
‘Mason admitted killing Alex from the outset of this trial but still felt the need to put us through the trauma of this trial in an attempt to minimise his sentence.
‘He never once considered the pain it would put our family through, or indeed his own family.
‘We have never come across a more selfish, cold and calculating person.
‘Mason has attempted to blame Alex and discredit his name throughout this trial, and thankfully the jury were able to see through his web of deceit.’
‘I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to Mr and Mrs Rodda for their patience and support throughout the investigation.
‘The true extent of Mason and Alex’s relationship could not have been done without the bravery and courage of Alex’s friends.
‘They provided key information to the investigation, despite their grief and heartache, in order to secure justice for their friend.
‘Mason had murder on his mind as he drove Alex to his death under the pretence of sexual activity.
‘He chose a secluded place to kill him in cold blood, a place he believed he would go unseen and his crime undetected.
‘Alex was a popular young boy who was much loved by his family and friends. I hope the conviction of Mason helps Alex’s family and his close friends to come to terms with such a terrible tragedy.
‘My thoughts continue to be with them all.’
David Keane, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said: ‘I would like to commend the investigation team who worked tirelessly to gather crucial evidence in order to secure justice for Alex, his family and friends.
‘His death shocked the local community and all those who were close to him. My thoughts are with them during this difficult time.’