MATTHEW BROOK SHAMES 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SELBY IN SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE CASE
In October 2014, a disturbing case unfolded at York Crown Court involving Matthew Brook, a 19-year-old man from Chandlers, The Waterfront, Selby, who was found guilty of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.The incident, which took place on a single day, involved Brook engaging in three separate sexual acts with the young girl, despite her age and the obvious inappropriateness of his actions.
According to court proceedings, the victim confided in her mother about the abuse after the events occurred.
Her mother noticed fresh 'love bites' on her daughter's skin and, upon questioning, the girl disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by Brook.
She recounted that during their encounter, Brook dismissed her age, telling her that it did not matter.
The girl also revealed that Brook had arranged to meet her through Facebook, initially claiming she was 15, although she was only 13 at the time.
The court heard that Brook had contacted the girl via social media after she disclosed her age as 13.
When they finally met near a canal, Brook took her to his bedroom, where he proceeded to perform a series of sexual acts involving her.
The prosecution, led by Shaun Dodds, detailed how Brook's actions were predatory and manipulative.
The girl’s mother later described how her daughter was subjected to bullying at school, with classmates accusing her of fabricating the story about Brook's misconduct.
Brook pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a minor, all committed on the same day.
The court was informed that he later told police she had claimed to be 15 on Facebook, which he used to justify his actions.
A probation officer assessed the risk of Brook reoffending as 'medium,' raising concerns about his potential for future harm.
During sentencing, Recorder Eric Elliott QC acknowledged the seriousness of the case and expressed concern about the influence of prison environment on Brook’s character.
He emphasized that the type of individuals Brook would encounter in prison could lead to further moral corruption, making it difficult for him to distinguish right from wrong.
As part of his sentence, Brook was given a three-year community order, which includes a 46-session sex offender rehabilitation program, three years of supervised probation, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, the court imposed a five-year sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting the girl in any manner or having unsupervised contact with any girl under 16.
The order also restricts his use of the internet to prevent further offenses.
Brook will be registered as a sex offender for five years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.
His defense lawyer, John Boumphrey, stated that Brook accepted responsibility for his actions and attributed his offending to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Despite this, the court made it clear that such behavior was unacceptable and warranted strict measures to prevent recurrence.
