MATTHEW SHERWOOD FROM WORCESTER STILL AWAITING SENTENCE OVER SEXUAL OFFENCES
In June 2022, the case of Matthew Sherwood, a known sex offender from Worcester, remains unresolved as he has yet to be formally sentenced for serious allegations involving the grooming of a minor.The delay in sentencing is primarily due to ongoing issues with the medical report required for his case, which has caused multiple adjournments.
Sherwood, aged 37 and residing on Mandalay Drive in Norton, Worcester, was scheduled to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, June 17.
This hearing comes nearly five months after he initially admitted to the offences, highlighting the slow pace of judicial proceedings amid the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The case has seen a total of five court hearings, with four of those taking place at Worcester Crown Court itself.
Originally, Sherwood was set to be sentenced on March 2.
However, the hearing was postponed for six weeks because the necessary medical report was not yet available to the defense.
This report's absence led to another delay until May 11.
During that session, the case was once again adjourned, this time until May 26, due to the continued unavailability of the report.
Each postponement underscores the complexities and delays faced by the justice system in processing such sensitive cases.
In the court proceedings, Sherwood admitted to multiple serious charges, including attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to communicate sexually with a child, and possessing indecent images of children.
To prevent him from being photographed during court appearances, supporters formed a 'human shield' around him, a tactic often used to protect defendants from media exposure.
Earlier, on January 27, at Worcester Magistrates Court, Sherwood pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between January 31 and February 8, 2020.
He also admitted to trying to incite a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity during the same period.
The case was prosecuted by David Jackson, who revealed that Sherwood was caught by a child protection unit called 'No More Secrets.' This online group operates by using a profile of a fictional 14-year-old girl to catch predators.
Judge James Burbidge QC issued a stern warning to Sherwood in April, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions.
The judge stated, “You must not put in your mind that you will necessarily avoid immediate custody.
You must ready yourself for that.
These are serious matters.” As the case continues to be delayed, a draft sexual harm prevention order is also under consideration, which could impose restrictions on Sherwood's future activities.
The ongoing legal process highlights the gravity of the allegations and the importance of thorough judicial review before sentencing can be finalized.
