ANDREW MATTHEWS SHOCKING REARREST IN WARRINGTON AFTER SEX OFFENDER HISTORY AND HOMOPHOBIC REMARKS
Andrew Matthews, a man with a troubling criminal history and previously convicted of a heinous sexual assault, has found himself back behind bars in Warrington following new incidents that further demonstrate his disregard for legal restrictions and community standards.In 2021, Matthews was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman.
During this assault, he forcefully groped her in the crotch, causing her pain and emotional distress.
The victim was left in tears, feeling vulnerable and shaken after Matthews made disturbing comments about having a 'black belt' in attacking women.
His violent behavior escalated as he choked her by grabbing her throat, punched her in the face, pushed her during the attack, and spat at her five times.
These acts caused only bruising and tenderness, but the emotional impact was profound.
The woman described her experience as making her feel 'depressed and upset,' as well as increasingly anxious, feeling uncomfortable in her own skin, and suffering from regular panic attacks.
Matthews's criminal record at the time was extensive, with 19 previous convictions across 24 different offences, many of which involved violence.
Due to his actions, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was told he would serve his sentence 'to sit at Her Majesty's pleasure and contemplate what he has done.' Despite his sentencing, Matthews continued to exhibit troubling conduct.
Recently, he was accused of breaching a restraining order imposed by Liverpool Crown Court in July 2021.
This order was put in place following his sexual assault conviction to prevent him from approaching or being within a certain distance of the victim and other specified areas.
On Thursday, March 16, in Warrington, Matthews allegedly engaged in behavior that violated this restraining order.
He reportedly used threatening, disorderly, and abusive language with the intent to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to another individual.
Furthermore, Matthews attended within 100 metres of a Warrington street, a clear breach of the court order that prohibited him from doing so.
The latest incident was brought before Chester Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, March 18, where Matthews appeared to face charges of making homophobic comments intended to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, breaching the restraining order, and using threatening or abusive language.
Prosecutor Michael Caine outlined the details of these offences, emphasizing that they occurred just two days prior, on March 16.
Matthews, who is now a resident of Brantfield Court in Padgate, was accused of using threatening and insulting language that would reasonably cause harassment or distress.
Magistrates considered Matthews’s previous record and the circumstances of his latest offending when determining the appropriate sentence.
Although they acknowledged his guilty pleas, they concluded that only an immediate custodial sentence could sufficiently reflect the gravity of his actions, especially considering he was already subject to post-sentence supervision and had a history of violent and disturbing behaviour.
In recognition of his recent conduct, Matthews was sentenced to an additional 14 weeks in prison.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £154 to the victim.
Warrington authorities and community members are closely watching his case, given the prior serious nature of his offences and the repeated breaches of court orders.
