MATTHEW MILLEN FROM WESTCLIFF SENTENCED IN SOUTHAMPTON CHILD SEX CASE
| Red Rose Database
Westcliff Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about child safety, Matthew Millen, a 44-year-old man from Westcliff, has seen his prison sentence significantly increased following his conviction for attempting to engage in sexual activity with an 11-year-old girl. The incident unfolded after Millen traveled from Westcliff to Southampton with the intent to meet a young girl named Grace, whom he believed was of age but was actually an undercover police officer.
Millen, who resided on Hall Park Avenue in Westcliff, had planned the encounter meticulously. He took a train to Southampton, bringing with him a USB device, which he intended to use to record the act. According to court proceedings, he had also arranged the meeting through WhatsApp, where he communicated with Grace’s father, and had paid £300 for the sexual services of the child. The plan was to carry out the act in the presence of Grace’s father, indicating a premeditated attempt to exploit the young girl.
However, the police were vigilant and had set up an undercover operation. When Millen arrived at a McDonald's in Westquay Shopping Centre, Southampton, he was promptly arrested. The authorities confirmed that the individual he had been communicating with was an undercover officer, not Grace’s father as he had claimed. The arrest marked the culmination of a detailed investigation into his intentions.
Following his arrest, Millen was brought before Southampton Crown Court, where he faced charges of attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child. The prosecution, led by Berenice Mulvanny, highlighted the extensive planning involved in the case and emphasized that Millen’s actions were not impulsive but calculated. During the trial, Millen maintained a controversial defense, claiming he was a paedophile hunter attempting to catch Grace’s father, rather than intending to commit a crime himself.
Judge Gary Burrell QC described the case as a dreadful tragedy, underscoring the severity of the crime and the potential harm to the child involved. Initially, in December 2021, Millen was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and to be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
However, the case did not end there. In early 2023, the case was referred to the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Scheme, which allows for the review of sentences deemed too lenient for serious crimes. After a comprehensive review, the Court of Appeal increased Millen’s sentence to seven years imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the need for a stronger punitive response.
The Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, expressed his strong disapproval of the original sentence, stating, “I was shocked and appalled by the wicked intentions of these men and it was only thanks to the vigilance of the police and others that their criminality did not extend further. I welcome the decisions of the Court of Appeal in what is a landmark case for the court.”
This case has also brought to light the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online grooming and child exploitation. Millen’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with malicious intent and the importance of community vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from harm.
Millen, who resided on Hall Park Avenue in Westcliff, had planned the encounter meticulously. He took a train to Southampton, bringing with him a USB device, which he intended to use to record the act. According to court proceedings, he had also arranged the meeting through WhatsApp, where he communicated with Grace’s father, and had paid £300 for the sexual services of the child. The plan was to carry out the act in the presence of Grace’s father, indicating a premeditated attempt to exploit the young girl.
However, the police were vigilant and had set up an undercover operation. When Millen arrived at a McDonald's in Westquay Shopping Centre, Southampton, he was promptly arrested. The authorities confirmed that the individual he had been communicating with was an undercover officer, not Grace’s father as he had claimed. The arrest marked the culmination of a detailed investigation into his intentions.
Following his arrest, Millen was brought before Southampton Crown Court, where he faced charges of attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child. The prosecution, led by Berenice Mulvanny, highlighted the extensive planning involved in the case and emphasized that Millen’s actions were not impulsive but calculated. During the trial, Millen maintained a controversial defense, claiming he was a paedophile hunter attempting to catch Grace’s father, rather than intending to commit a crime himself.
Judge Gary Burrell QC described the case as a dreadful tragedy, underscoring the severity of the crime and the potential harm to the child involved. Initially, in December 2021, Millen was sentenced to three years in prison. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and to be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
However, the case did not end there. In early 2023, the case was referred to the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Scheme, which allows for the review of sentences deemed too lenient for serious crimes. After a comprehensive review, the Court of Appeal increased Millen’s sentence to seven years imprisonment, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the need for a stronger punitive response.
The Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, expressed his strong disapproval of the original sentence, stating, “I was shocked and appalled by the wicked intentions of these men and it was only thanks to the vigilance of the police and others that their criminality did not extend further. I welcome the decisions of the Court of Appeal in what is a landmark case for the court.”
This case has also brought to light the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat online grooming and child exploitation. Millen’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with malicious intent and the importance of community vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from harm.