MATTHEW CHARLESWORTH'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN STOKE: PAEDOPHILE HUNTERS BRING JUSTICE

In March 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Matthew Charlesworth, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, who was ultimately caught in a sting operation by paedophile hunters in Stoke-on-Trent. The incident took place in Hanley’s Central Forest Park, where Charlesworth, aged 31, had arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. In reality, the girl was an adult member of a vigilant group dedicated to catching online predators.

Charlesworth’s contact with the decoy was initiated through Facebook, where he used the alias Matt Charlei. During their conversations, he falsely claimed to be 20 years old and quickly shifted the dialogue towards sexual topics. His messages included explicit references, such as asking the decoy to put her hand in her underwear and rub between her legs, and inquired if she liked oral sex. These exchanges demonstrated a clear intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor, despite the fact that the girl was an adult posing as a child.

On June 11, a member of the paedophile hunting group arranged for Charlesworth to meet at Hanley’s Central Forest Park at 2 pm. When he arrived at the designated location, he was immediately handed over to the police, who arrested him the following day. The evidence collected from hundreds of pages of chat logs, along with his seized mobile phone, confirmed his attempts to groom and engage with what he believed were underage girls.

Charlesworth, a known offender with a troubling criminal history, was already serving a sentence after being convicted in 2017 for multiple sex-related offenses, including meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual activity with a child, attempting to meet a child following grooming, and possessing extreme pornography. He was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that prohibited him from contacting girls under 16. Despite these restrictions, he continued to pursue underage girls online, as evidenced by his interactions with the decoys.

During the court proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, prosecutor Sharon Bahia detailed Charlesworth’s predatory behavior. She explained that he had made contact with three decoys, all claiming to be 14 years old, but in fact, all were adults. He engaged in sexually explicit conversations with each, including asking one to put her hand in her underwear and asking another if she liked it in her mouth. The decoys, acting on behalf of the paedophile hunters, provided extensive chat logs as evidence of his intent to commit sexual offenses.

Charlesworth’s guilty pleas covered multiple charges, including attempting to breach his SHPO, attempting to engage in sexual communication with minors, and inciting non-penetrative sexual activity with a child. Judge Paul Glenn sentenced him to an extended period of 32 months in custody, followed by six years on license. Additionally, he was made subject to a new indefinite SHPO, placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, and barred from activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Glenn condemned Charlesworth’s actions, noting that he had used a profile featuring a character from Hawaii Five-O, Steve McGarrett, to mask his true intentions. The judge emphasized that Charlesworth’s numerous messages aimed to groom children, and although no actual victims were harmed in this case, his conduct posed a significant risk to the safety of young females under 16. The judge highlighted the disturbing nature of the material involved and expressed concern over the potential for future harm.

Charlesworth’s criminal record is extensive. He was previously convicted of grooming a real schoolgirl online, pretending to be a 17-year-old boy, and subsequently sexually assaulting her. His criminal activities also include grooming a 12-year-old girl online, which led to his arrest after police intercepted him attempting to meet another girl he had groomed. Despite his prior convictions, he repeatedly breached the conditions of his sexual offences prevention order, demonstrating a pattern of disregard for legal restrictions.

His criminal history dates back to at least March 2017, when he was jailed for grooming a 14-year-old girl and attempting to arrange a meeting with her. During that case, police uncovered messages and videos, including indecent images and extreme pornography, on his mobile device. His actions have consistently shown a disturbing pattern of online grooming, sexual exploitation, and attempts to meet minors for sexual purposes, often involving deception and emotional blackmail.

In June 2020, Charlesworth was again caught by paedophile hunters after grooming what he believed was a 12-year-old girl online. He sent sexual messages with the intent to engage her in sexual activity, but the girl was an adult decoy. His repeated offenses and breaches of court orders underscore the ongoing danger he poses to the community, especially to vulnerable young females. His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant online monitoring and strict legal enforcement to protect children from predators like Matthew Charlesworth.