MATTHEW POWELL FROM SOMERSET JAILED FOR LEWD ACTS AND CHILD SEX OFFENSES ON TRAIN IN CHESTER
In a serious case that has shocked the local community, Matthew Powell, a resident of Somerset, was involved in a series of disturbing incidents on a train journey that has now culminated in his imprisonment.The events unfolded at Liverpool Central train station and continued during a one-hour train ride to Chester, where Powell's inappropriate behavior was observed and reported to authorities.
According to court proceedings, Powell, aged 48 and living on Newton Road, engaged in lewd acts while on the train, including staring at women and making inappropriate gestures.
Witnesses reported that he sat diagonally opposite a woman, during which he was seen to be staring at her legs and placing his hand on his crotch.
When she moved seats to escape his gaze, Powell shifted to another carriage occupied by a lone woman.
It was at this point that witnesses observed him attempting to take a photograph of her with his phone, while he continued to behave in a sexually provocative manner by stroking his crotch during the journey.
The victims, understandably distressed, have reported feeling very anxious following the incidents.
One stated that she has not been on a train since, while another expressed that she now avoids traveling alone and stays away from Chester train station altogether.
The police were alerted, and Powell was arrested at Chester station.
During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, offering no comments on the allegations.
Further investigations revealed that Powell had been engaging in inappropriate online conversations with a girl he believed to be 13 years old, identified as 'Amy' in Facebook chats.
These exchanges, which took place between February and March of this year, involved Powell attempting to arrange sexual encounters, including suggesting they meet in a hotel.
The group of paedophile hunters, who had set up the decoy account, tracked Powell to his home, leading to his arrest.
Despite the serious nature of these communications, Powell made no comment during police interviews.
In court, Alec Small, prosecuting, detailed the sequence of events and the evidence against Powell.
The court heard that Powell's actions constituted outraging public decency and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.
Powell pleaded guilty to both charges in November last year.
During the sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on September 1, Judge James Patrick sentenced Powell to 42 months in prison.
The judge acknowledged Powell's personal circumstances, noting that he is a married man in a stable relationship, and commended his wife for standing by him.
Powell was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent further offending.
Defence counsel Catherine Flint highlighted Powell's diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which she argued affected his ability to communicate and understand social cues.
She requested that any sentence be kept to a minimum, emphasizing Powell's understanding of the gravity of his actions and the fact that immediate custody was inevitable.
As a result of his conviction, Powell will now face the consequences of his actions, which have caused significant distress to his victims and raised concerns about safety on public transportation in the Somerset and Chester areas.
