HEBBURN PERVERT MATTHEW CROUCH SENTENCED FOR GROOMING TEENAGE GIRLS AND MAKING DEATH THREATS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Hebburn community, Matthew Crouch, a 22-year-old man from Lumley Court, Hebburn, has been sentenced to an indefinite period of detention following a series of heinous crimes involving the grooming and threatening of teenage girls. The case, heard at Teesside Crown Court, revealed a pattern of predatory behavior carried out primarily through social media and mobile communications, targeting vulnerable minors with malicious intent.

According to court records, Crouch initially engaged with a 17-year-old girl in January by obtaining her mobile phone number and asking her out on a date. When she declined his advances, he responded with threatening messages, including a stark warning: “You’re dead.” His actions escalated in February when he made contact with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. The two exchanged emails and phone numbers, but the communication soon turned sexually explicit. When the young girl refused to meet his sexual demands, Crouch issued a terrifying threat, stating, “I know where you live. I’m going to rape and kill you tomorrow.”

Further investigations uncovered that Crouch had also contacted two other girls after obtaining their mobile numbers. When his advances were rejected by these individuals, he responded with a series of menacing text messages, threatening to commit acts of sexual violence, arson, and murder against their homes and persons. These threats underscored the dangerous nature of his conduct and prompted his immediate arrest.

During police interviews, Crouch disclosed that he had groomed another teenage girl on Facebook, a 15-year-old from Hartlepool. He had arranged to meet her, but she refused to see him again. Additionally, another 15-year-old girl approached authorities to report that Crouch had groped her while she was intoxicated. When she ended their friendship, Crouch responded with a death threat, vowing to stab her to death.

In total, Crouch pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of harassment, arranging sexual activity with a 13-year-old, making threats to kill, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. His crimes spanned from September of the previous year through February of this year, highlighting a sustained pattern of predatory and threatening behavior.

The court sentenced Crouch to a public protection order, which entails an initial tariff of six years. Although he will not be eligible for parole for at least three years, the indefinite nature of his detention means he could be held longer if authorities determine he remains a significant risk to the public. The case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the protection of minors from predators operating through social media platforms in Hebburn and beyond.