MATTHEW ALEXANDER

A man from the Forest of Dean has been jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of multiple counts of raping and sexually assaulting two children several years ago.

Matthew Alexander, aged 48 and of Lydney, was jailed yesterday (Thursday 2 October) after a jury unanimously found him guilty of 16 offences against the girls following a trial.

Gloucester Crown Court was told the investigation into Alexander's crimes began in July 2023 after the victims, now adults, contacted Gloucestershire Police to report that he had raped and sexually assaulted them multiple times.

The girls were aged under 13 at the time of the offences.

Following an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department, Alexander was subsequently charged with the offences and although he denied them all, he was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a trial in July this year.

Before Alexander was sentenced, the court heard statements written by his victims in which they described how his crimes have impacted their lives.

One of the victims said: “Alexander’s abusive behaviour has had a massive impact on me growing up, I felt that I had to grow up faster and I couldn’t be the child that I wanted to be.

"It’s had a major impact on my ability to form relationships, trust people and open up.

Specifically, I really struggle to trust men.

"I will never be able to forgive him for what he has done to me.

I have always felt that I am not good enough.

I can’t look at myself in a positive way and my body image is very low.

"Whenever I go out, I always feel on edge and am looking over my shoulder.

I have flashbacks of what happened, and I have to reassure myself that he is not there and that I am safe.

"I was overwhelmed when I received the verdict that he had been found guilty of all 16 offences, however, I felt proud that my voice got heard and I was believed." Another victim said: “I struggled to make friends, this was because I did not know how to approach people and feel confident.

As I grew older, I always felt so nervous about new relationships and I felt ashamed of my body.

"I now find it hard to trust anyone to look after my child, especially men.

What happened to me has made me so overprotective." Sentencing judge Recorder Crooknorth told Alexander: "The victims have both shown immense courage in the face of something you put them through.

You have tried to escape the truth and now it has caught up with you.

You continued to deny the offences and there is no remorse." Along with the 20-year jail term, the judge gave Alexander an extended sentence with an additional two years to serve on licence due to aggravating factors around his offences.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 30 years to protect the public and a 30-year-restraining order not to contact either victim.

His name will also be added to the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Alexander will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence behind bars before he is eligible for parole.