MATTHEW CLARKE OF FALDINGWORTH JAILED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Faldingworth and the wider region, Matthew Clarke, aged 33, has been sentenced to prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl under the age of 13. The crimes spanned over an alarming period of eight years, during which Clarke exploited the vulnerability of his young victim in a manner that has left many in disbelief.

According to the prosecution, led by James Bide-Thomas, Clarke systematically groomed the girl, gradually gaining her trust before subjecting her to a series of sexual abuses. The court heard that Clarke's actions were not isolated incidents but part of a prolonged pattern of predatory behavior. The severity of his offenses was compounded by the fact that he recorded himself raping the young girl, an act that has added to the trauma experienced by the victim and the horror of the case.

The investigation was triggered when police officers, in the course of handling a separate matter, interviewed the girl as a witness. During her interview, she courageously disclosed the abuse she had endured at the hands of Clarke. This revelation led to a thorough investigation, during which police examined Clarke’s mobile phone and uncovered more than 1,100 images depicting child sexual abuse. These images, along with the recorded footage of the assault, underscored the depravity of Clarke’s actions.

Clarke, who was found to have no fixed address at the time of his arrest but was previously residing on Stocks Lane, admitted to a total of 28 charges. These charges included the rape of a child under 13, assault by penetration of a child under 13, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, taking indecent photographs of a child, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His guilty plea was accepted by the court, and he was subsequently sentenced to a life-long registration on the sex offenders’ register. Additionally, Clarke was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which is designed to restrict his behavior and prevent further offenses upon his release from custody.

During the sentencing, Judge John Pini QC addressed Clarke directly, stating, “You have pleaded guilty to extremely serious and repeated sexual offending. From a young age, you groomed your victim and used her as a sex toy. She was extremely vulnerable.” The judge’s remarks underscored the gravity of the crimes and the lasting impact on the young girl, whose life has been profoundly affected by Clarke’s actions.