RAYMOND MATTHEWS OF PETERLEE CAUGHT TRYING TO MEET 14-YEAR-OLD FOR SEX IN SEDGEFIELD

In August 2017, Raymond Matthews, a 55-year-old bricklayer from Peterlee, was caught attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex in a sting operation conducted by the online child protection group Guardians of the North.

Matthews believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl named Jessica through a fake profile created by the paedophile hunting team. During the exchanges, 'Jessica' asked, “Are you okay with me being 14?” to which Matthews replied, “Yes lol, it’s mad though. Are you curious about doing sex?” He then offered to teach her about sex acts and arranged a meeting.

The plan was to meet Jessica at the Golden Lion pub car park in South Hylton, Sunderland, in June, near a location where the fictitious girl claimed she would be visiting her nana.

Prosecutor Jane Waugh explained, “It is clear the defendant thought he was speaking to a person who he believed to be 14-years-old and had sexual conversations and made arrangements to meet.”

When Matthews arrived at the designated meeting point, he was confronted by Guardians of the North members, who recognized him and promptly called the police.

Matthews pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and one of attempting to arrange a meeting with a child for sexual purposes. Police recovered his phone, which contained searches for sexual images and videos of very young girls.

While on bail, Matthews attempted online contact with another fake profile created by Guardians of the North, this time a 14-year-old girl named Lauren. This breach of bail conditions led to his bail being revoked.

Ultimately, Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Matthews to six months in prison. He stated, “I have no doubt that had this been a 14-year-old and you had the opportunity, you would have engaged in that act. That couldn’t occur because this was a fake profile. It’s clear from the search terms that you have a sexual interest in children and young people. This was quite determined and considered behaviour.”

Additionally, Matthews will be required to register as a sex offender.