MATTHEW FLAY'S CRIME IN CALNE AND POOLE: SHOCKING SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In July 2014, a disturbing case emerged involving Matthew Flay, a 21-year-old man whose actions led to his imprisonment for a period of thirteen and a half months. The incident took place in Calne, where Flay engaged in a series of predatory acts against a 13-year-old girl who had recently run away from her home. The case was brought to light after Flay's interactions with the young girl and her teenage friend in the woods of Calne, which culminated in a series of sexual offenses.

According to court proceedings, Flay met the two girls during their attempt to escape their respective homes. The girls had initially left after school in July of the previous year, and after gathering some alcohol from the younger girl’s residence, they headed to local recreational areas, including some playing fields and Castlefields Park. During their walk through the park, they encountered Flay, who was sitting on a bridge. The girls approached him, asking for a cigarette, which he provided. This initial contact soon developed into a conversation, during which Flay introduced himself as Matty from Lacock and offered them cannabis, which they all smoked together.

Prosecutor Colin Meeke described the interaction as increasingly intimate, noting that the girls appeared to be quite taken with Flay. The situation quickly escalated when Flay attempted to inappropriately touch the girls, trying to put his hands down their trousers. Subsequently, the two girls engaged in a sexual act with Flay, who then persuaded them to go into the nearby trees for further sexual activity. The younger girl, feeling pain during the act, managed to get up, put on her clothes, and walk away from the scene, returning to her friend.

Despite the girls being reported missing to the police, they did not disclose the details of what had transpired until several days later. When questioned, Flay initially denied all allegations, pleading not guilty. However, he later admitted to the charges after further investigation. During questioning, Flay was unable to explain how the police could identify him as being from Lacock or how they found a condom wrapper with his fingerprints on it, which linked him to the scene.

Flay, who provided an address in Poole, Dorset, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child. His defense attorney, Robin Shellard, acknowledged the impact of the incident on the victims, noting that both girls had pre-existing issues prior to the events. Shellard emphasized that Flay, who was only 20 at the time, was immature and described him as a 'young boy in a man’s body.' He argued that Flay was unaware of the full extent of the girls’ vulnerabilities when he met them that day.

Judge Tim Mousley QC addressed the court, condemning Flay’s actions, especially highlighting that he had supplied cannabis to the girls shortly before the offenses. The judge stated, “On any view, you took great advantage of these two teenage girls,” and acknowledged the serious impact on the victims, despite their own personal difficulties. The judge concluded that the gravity of the offenses warranted an immediate custodial sentence. Consequently, Flay was sentenced to over a year in prison, with additional measures including a ten-year sexual offences prevention order and a requirement to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct in the future.