LIVERPOOL MAN SENTENCED AGAIN FOR RAPING TEEN GIRL & PAST CRIMES

A man named Matthew Reed, who has previously served over a decade in custody for sexual offences, has been convicted and sentenced to an additional three years in prison for new allegations of sexual assault. Reed has a serious criminal history that includes multiple sentences for rape and sexual assault, including serving 10 years in 2014 for raping a child, and a seven-month sentence in 2017 for assaulting a fellow inmate. The latest prosecution involved Reed admitting to raping a four-year-old girl when he was a teenager. The victim was left "scared and sobbing" after the assault, which took her innocence and caused lasting trauma. She told the court that Reed callously said "it's alright" when she told him she was in pain. The girl later confided in her family and reported the incident to police in 2023 after reading about Reed's previous sentencing for similar crimes. During the court hearing, Prosecutor Arthur Gibson described how Reed’s victim was left distressed and had to seek medical attention due to injuries sustained during the assault. Despite her crying and reporting the pain, Reed continued assaulting her. Reed was arrested in December of the previous year and initially denied the allegations. The victim’s statement indicated she now suffers from nightmares and panic attacks, fearing these symptoms will continue for the rest of her life. Reed pleaded guilty to the charges, which included rape and sexual assault, and was sentenced in court. His sentence was reduced to nine years on appeal in 2023, with an extended license period of five years. In addition, he was handed 10 years in 2014 and seven months in 2017 for separate sexual offences. Despite having served 11 years so far and being due for parole in January 2027, the court sentenced him to a further three years to run consecutively with his current sentence. During sentencing, Judge Anil Murray acknowledged Reed’s guilty plea and the seriousness of his crimes. The judge remarked that while Reed showed remorse, the impact on the victim was devastating, causing her nightmares and trauma, and that she suffered significant emotional harm because of his actions. Reed was described as someone who still struggles with his own sexuality and mental health, and he expressed a desire to work with authorities to understand his past. The judge emphasized the gravity of the offence, noting that the girl was scared and sobbing during the assault, and that her fear persisted long after the incident, highlighting the lasting harm caused.