October 2011 Matson sex attacker back in court A MATSON man who was jailed for four years for a “vile” attack on a Gloucester schoolgirl was back in court for breaking the terms of the sex offenders register. John Withers, 36, of Redwell Road, pleaded guilty to moving down to Cornwall without notifying the police of a change of address, as required under the terms of the register. Prosecuting solicitor Louise Pinder told city magistrates: “The defendant was convicted of indecent assault in 1998 and jailed for four years. “When he was released from prison he went to live with his mother in Matson but in August of this year when police called around at the address his mother told them that he had moved out and was not welcome to return. “Police later discovered that Withers had been claiming sickness benefit in Falmouth, where he had moved without informing the authorities. “He has since moved back to live with his mother. “The defendant has a number of previous convictions besides the indecent assault.” Defending solicitor Lisa Ellis said: “He had been living with his mother for 10 years but he did not get on with his mother’s partner so he moved out. “This was not very sophisticated and was only a short absence.” In 1998 Withers dragged a 15-year-old schoolgirl from a Gloucester city centre street, pushed her up against a wall, kissed and groped her. Jailing Withers for four years and ordering him to be on the sex offenders register indefinitely, the judge at Gloucester Crown Court told him at the time: “You pushed her up against a wall and indecently assaulted her in the most vile way. “Then after a 15-minute ordeal, you left behind a very shocked and very frightened young girl.”