PAEDOPHILE JAILED AFTER OFFENCES WITH 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A convicted sex offender who engaged in a relationship and sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to prison.The offenses took place when Matthew Kenny was 18 and 19 years old.
Residing in Burtonwood, Warrington, Kenny disregarded multiple cautions from both the victim’s mother and law enforcement, continuing to communicate with the young girl, which ultimately resulted in sexual encounters.
Now aged 23, Kenny received an 18-month prison term, with the court describing the relationship as “age inappropriate” and noting that it “went on for far too long.” Kenny appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday for sentencing after previously admitting to the charges.
The case faced a nearly four-year delay from October 2017, due to forensic and procedural delays.
Prosecutor Frances Willmott explained that initially, Kenny offered the victim support, and they became friends.
This eventually led to the two seeing each other and sharing a kiss, after which Kenny asked her to be his girlfriend despite knowing she was only 13.
When the victim’s mother learned that the pair continued contact despite prior warnings and police involvement, she reported it to authorities.
Law enforcement attempted to warn Kenny and educate him on the potential dangers of their relationship, giving him a formal caution.
Nevertheless, he ignored these warnings along with those from the victim’s family.
In October 2017, police questioned Kenny, who denied any sexual activity, claiming the kiss was merely a greeting.
However, further investigations uncovered sexual messages, evidence that the girl had performed a sexual act on Kenny, and that Kenny had touched her inappropriately.
Ms.
Willmott stated that the victim expressed regret about what happened but did not believe it was wrong at the time.
Defense lawyer Hunter Gray characterized Kenny as a “naïve and socially awkward individual,” not a “predatory paedophile.” He explained that Kenny was vulnerable in 2017, having grown up with fears of rejection.
Gray emphasized that Kenny sought emotional support from the girl, and described him as lacking mature understanding, with limited ability to handle negative emotions.
Communications between them mostly centered on feelings of being in love, her wellbeing, and their future, with minimal sexual content.
Gray emphasized that the relationship appeared “genuine,” driven by affection rather than manipulation or malicious intent.
He asserted that Kenny was immature, not understanding the wrongfulness of his actions at the time.
Reflecting on his current perspective, Gray said Kenny would now advise his younger self that the conduct was wrong, expressing regret for his past naivety.
The court acknowledged mitigating factors: Kenny had no previous convictions, showed remorse, was only 18 at the time, the events occurred five years prior, and he had committed no additional offenses since.
Judge Watson stated: “You were 18, and she was considerably younger.
You knew of her vulnerability—not only because of her age but due to her personal issues.
Despite this, you continued and reinitiated the relationship multiple times.
You chose to advance it to a sexual level involving penetration.
I accept sex was not your primary motivation.
You are not inherently predatory; it appears you had a significant blind spot regarding how inappropriate your affection was, as was hers for you.
I also accept that you’re a different person now—more aware and genuinely remorseful.” Kenny was sentenced to 18 months in prison, required to notify authorities of his whereabouts for ten years, placed under a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, and issued a five-year restraining order against the victim.
