MATTHEW LAWTON SENTENCED IN WIDNES FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST TEENAGERS
A mother received a disturbing video of her daughter being sexually assaulted by Matthew Lawton after he groomed her via Snapchat.Lawton targeted two teenage girls, luring them with offers of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis.
He falsely claimed to be 19 to deceive the children, aged 14 and 13, into meeting him for consensual sex.
Under UK law, while it remains illegal to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 16, consensual sex is not classified as rape if the victim is 13 or older.
Lawton encouraged the victims to send him intimate photographs and filmed the 14-year-old, known as Girl A, having sex with him.
He then used this footage to blackmail her into further abuse, including a rape where he held a knife to her throat.
When she tried to cease contact, Lawton employed threats and blackmail.
He later posted the video on a Snapchat account called "slags," which led to it being shared with her mother.
Residing on Milton Road in Widnes, Lawton, who claimed he believed the girls were 16, was found guilty after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court of 19 sexual offences.
Judge Denis Watson, QC, stated that Lawton "corrupted" the girls by lying about his age and purposely orchestrating the abuse.
The judge remarked: "You're 30 and you had a girlfriend.
What you also had, and still have, I find, is a serious sexual interest in young girls." He added: "You were regularly in contact with young teenagers on social media including Snapchat and you knew very well that these young teenagers enjoyed attention from you, an older male, even though you didn't give your true age." According to Judge Watson, Lawton typically offered alcohol, cigarettes, or cannabis to the girls, which convinced them to meet with him and engage in sexual activities they wanted to keep secret from their families.
The judge emphasized: "You were after one thing, sex." The court heard that Lawton abused Girl A over a four to five month period.
During this time, text messages revealed he threatened to vandalize her parents' home and to post the explicit video on social media.
The judge recounted that one of the rapes occurred after Lawton pressured Girl A to meet him at his residence; despite her resistance and her clear refusal to have sex, he held a knife to her throat and forced himself upon her.
Although he claimed he was "only messing" and lowered the knife afterward, the rape still took place.
Another assault involved Lawton threatening to damage her mother's car unless she met him, which led her to climb out her bedroom window.
Coerced and frightened, she met Lawton on a sports ground early in the morning, where he again rape her.
The threats appeared effective, but once she stopped seeing him, Lawton posted the video online.
The video was recognized and shared widely, even being sent to her mother.
Judge Watson described the exploitation as "planned and calculated," targeting a vulnerable teenager for his own sexual gratification.
Sarah Holt, prosecuting, read a victim statement from Girl A, who now suffers from panic attacks, nightmares, and self-harm.
Girl A said: "He's a monster, that's what I call him.
He's a monster, what else is he?
He controlled me and he made me go against my parents." She expressed feelings of anger and shame, blaming herself and noting the distress of her family, especially her father.
Girl A said: "Whose dad wants to know that this has happened to their little girl?" She also revealed she received threats of violence from others and fears Lawton will return.
"I don't feel safe from him.
I feel like the monster has won.
I feel like he's taken my life and taken my childhood." While offences against Girl B did not involve rape, they included grooming and soliciting sexual images.
Girl B described feeling "like a prisoner in my own home" because her mother was trying to protect her.
She experienced constant anxiety, fear that Lawton would return, uncontrollable crying, and felt judged by others.
Lawton was convicted on multiple counts: four of rape, nine of sexual activity with a child, two of meeting a child following grooming, two of sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to sexual activity, and taking indecent photographs of a minor.
He has a prior conviction for grievous bodily harm with intent, resulting in a six-year prison sentence in 2011.
Defence lawyer Paul Becker stated that Lawton was bullied in school, expelled, but later attended college and maintained a good work record.
He noted: "There is evidence without a diagnosis of ADHD and certainly evidence of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation." Mr.
Becker also mentioned that Lawton’s mental health was a concern, with medication prescribed for depression and a fatty liver.
He added: "His parents were present during the trial and Mr.
Lawton has family support.
He's had issues with bereavement, having lost close friends and grandparents over recent years.
Some of those issues remain unresolved; the defendant has not had counselling." In sentencing, Judge Watson told Lawton: "Your parents have not given up on you." However, citing the incident involving the knife and his use of blackmail, he described Lawton as a "dangerous offender" and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, with an extended four-year licence period.
Lawton is required to serve at least two-thirds of this sentence, totaling 10 years, before being eligible for parole, and only released early if deemed no longer a risk.
He will also be mandated to register as a sex offender and adhere to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
