Manchester Personal Trainer Jailed for Child Sexual Assault
| Red Rose Database
Manchester Child Sexual Abuser
A former personal trainer from Manchester has been sentenced after grooming and sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Greater Manchester Police first received reports that Matthew Lawrence was engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl while working as a personal trainer at a gym. He befriended her by offering to train and assist with her diet and nutrition. The gym’s management was concerned when they learned the victim was under 16, and they approached Lawrence to advise him to end her membership. Lawrence responded by saying, “Don’t ban her, in case she goes to the police.”
Further concerns arose as Lawrence had made comments indicating he preferred dating younger girls for their ‘innocence’ and had bragged about exchanging indecent images with the victim, raising fears that grooming was occurring. The gym staff reported these behaviors to the police, leading to Lawrence being circulated as wanted.
Investigations uncovered evidence including interactions between Lawrence and the victim, over 3,000 calls and texts in a month, many sexually explicit, and witness testimonies indicating his awareness of her age when he engaged with her.
Lawrence was arrested at London Airport on September 1, 2023, before he could start a new job as a personal trainer aboard a cruise ship. The victim confided in her mother in August 2023 that Lawrence had tried to kiss her and forced her into sexual acts. She also revealed that Lawrence took her to the cinema after training sessions, then sexually assaulted her in his car. The police recovered extensive evidence from his mobile phone.
Lawrence pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child during his hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on January 28, 2025. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. Additionally, he is subject to an indefinite restraining order, a sexual notification order, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Further concerns arose as Lawrence had made comments indicating he preferred dating younger girls for their ‘innocence’ and had bragged about exchanging indecent images with the victim, raising fears that grooming was occurring. The gym staff reported these behaviors to the police, leading to Lawrence being circulated as wanted.
Investigations uncovered evidence including interactions between Lawrence and the victim, over 3,000 calls and texts in a month, many sexually explicit, and witness testimonies indicating his awareness of her age when he engaged with her.
Lawrence was arrested at London Airport on September 1, 2023, before he could start a new job as a personal trainer aboard a cruise ship. The victim confided in her mother in August 2023 that Lawrence had tried to kiss her and forced her into sexual acts. She also revealed that Lawrence took her to the cinema after training sessions, then sexually assaulted her in his car. The police recovered extensive evidence from his mobile phone.
Lawrence pleaded guilty to sexual communication with a child and two counts of sexual activity with a child during his hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on January 28, 2025. He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. Additionally, he is subject to an indefinite restraining order, a sexual notification order, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.