GAINBOROUGH SEX OFFENDER MATTHEW SHANKS SENTENCED FOR ABUSING 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Gainsborough, Matthew Shanks, a 28-year-old man from Morton Terrace, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl who was only six years old at the time of the abuse.

The court proceedings revealed that Shanks had engaged in multiple acts of sexual assault against the girl, with the offences spanning over a period during which he exploited her innocence. The judge, Michael Heath, emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating that such offences warrant lengthy prison sentences to reflect their gravity. Throughout the 20-minute hearing, Shanks was visibly emotional, weeping as he listened to the court's judgment.

Shanks pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault on a child under 13, along with charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and another count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which explicitly prohibits him from having any contact with children under the age of 16.

Prosecutor Clive Stockwell detailed that the abuse occurred on multiple occasions, with Shanks attempting to persuade the young girl to allow him to take photographs of her, an offer she refused. The case came to light after the victim confided in her family about the abuse, prompting an investigation. When Shanks learned that the family had been informed, he wrote a letter to the girl, expressing remorse and apologizing for his actions.

Mr. Stockwell explained that the disclosure by the girl led directly to Shanks’s arrest. During police interviews, he fully admitted to the offences, showing no denial of his guilt. The court also heard a statement from the victim, who expressed her feelings of disgust and revealed that she has been receiving counseling to cope with the trauma.

Addressing Shanks directly, the young girl stated, “The sobbing and remorsefulness you have shown is only guilt. I will never, ever forgive you for what you have done. Any sentence is temporary for you. Mine is a life-time sentence.” Her words underscored the profound impact of the abuse and the lasting scars it has left on her life.