TERRENCE MATTHEWS FROM EXETER AND SITTINGBOURNE FACES LIFE SENTENCE IN MAIDSTONE FOR HISTORIC SEX CRIMES

In December 2019, the criminal case against Terrence Matthews, an 86-year-old man with ties to Exeter and Sittingbourne, took a dramatic turn as he faced multiple serious charges related to decades-old sexual offenses. Matthews, who was previously convicted of similar crimes, was expected to die in prison within weeks due to his failing health, which included cancer and severe lung issues. Despite his critical condition, he was present at Maidstone Crown Court via video link from Dartmoor Prison, where he was held.

Prison officials revealed to the court that Matthews was still alive that morning, much to the surprise of his colleagues, given his grave health status. His four victims, who had endured years of trauma, had feared that Matthews might evade justice altogether by dying before he could be sentenced. These victims, all former sea cadets, had come forward to report 14 separate sex crimes committed by Matthews over a span of 40 years.

It was also disclosed that Matthews was already serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence for similar offenses. During the proceedings, Maidstone Crown Court heard that one of the victims, a man from Sittingbourne, Sheppey, and Gravesend, had previously reported being groomed by Matthews. However, authorities had dismissed the case, citing it was not in the public interest to pursue charges at that time. Judge Philip Statman condemned this decision, describing it as a 'grave error of judgment.' The judge emphasized that these four men, who had lost their childhood innocence, had been let down by adult organizations that failed to act on their complaints about Matthews, a man known for his dominant personality.

All four victims sat in the courtroom gallery to witness Matthews being sentenced to a total of 44 years in prison for the 14 offenses. The judge ordered that these sentences run concurrently, resulting in a combined term of seven and a half years, which would be added to Matthews' existing sentence. Among the victims was a former serviceman, who had served in war zones including Afghanistan, and described Matthews' abuse as a nightmare far worse than any battlefield experience. The victims reported suffering from nightmares, damaged marriages, and difficulties at school due to Matthews' repeated assaults. One victim described Matthews as 'evil and manipulative,' noting that he groomed some of them by calling them his 'special boys' before exploiting their trust.

Historical records reveal Matthews' long history of sexual offenses. His first convictions date back to 1985 when he was associated with the St John’s Ambulance Service. Two years later, he moved to Gloucester, where he assaulted two more children. In 1995, he was convicted in Aberdeen for sex offenses, including possessing 2,000 images of children engaged in sexual acts. In 2005, after relocating to Gloucester again, Matthews attacked two children and received a sentence of 51 months. Throughout these years, he concealed his abusive acts, which included disturbing incidents during his time with the Sea Cadets. One victim recalled the smell of whisky on Matthews and feeling his rough beard during the assaults.

By 2017, Matthews was living on Heavitree Road in Exeter when he received a 78-month sentence for additional sex offenses. It was only after one of his victims, whose initial complaint had been dismissed, read about the recent sentencing and decided to come forward again that police were able to identify three more victims. This led to new charges being brought against him. As Matthews' legal counsel prepared to inform him of the latest sentence, the judge remarked that doctors believed Matthews had only a few weeks to live, citing his poor health prognosis.

In a related case from July 2017, an 83-year-old man was sentenced to six and a half years for historic sexual abuse of four boys between 1975 and 1980 in the Medway area. Matthews, then residing on Heavitree Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sexual assault against children aged 11 to 15, committed over several years. The court heard how Matthews' abuse affected victims from Medway towns and Sittingbourne, with incidents spanning multiple years and involving different children.