MATTHEW JACK OF GATESHEAD SENTENCED IN NEWCASTLE FOR REPEATED ONLINE SEX OFFENCES
Matthew Jack, formerly known as Huckle and from Gateshead, has been imprisoned again after repeatedly attempting to engage with minors online.Jack, who has previously served two sentences for similar offences, was caught in four additional incidents involving paedophile hunters.
These encounters all took place on the Whisper app while he was using the pseudonym troutyellow.
The court heard that in September 2019, Jack contacted what he believed was a 13-year-old girl’s profile actually a decoy set up by Geordie Chasers.
He asked for a picture and remarked that a photo would be better without her leggings, stating he "loved legs and wanted to see it all." When asked for a picture of himself, he replied, "I would rather meet." A second profile, also claiming to be 13 and operated on the same app, was contacted by Jack, who expressed a desire to "meet and do what girlfriends and boyfriends do—kiss, cuddle, strip, touch each other." Despite being told she believed her mother wouldn’t permit it, he persisted in requesting naked images and bikini photos.
Another profile, managed by vigilantes Guardians of the North, simulated a 14-year-old named Hannah Young.
Jack expressed a wish to meet her, wanted her to wear a dress, and said he wanted her to be his girlfriend and to have sex with her.
He asked for naked photos and claimed he would have sex with her the following day.
A further profile run by Dark Justice, representing a 14-year-old named Amy, was also involved.
Recognizing him from previous incidents, these investigators reported that Jack asked to meet Amy in Elswick Park and stated he would strip her.
The court noted Jack's extensive criminal history, which includes eight prior convictions, notably for sexual activity with a child in 2017.
He was first jailed in November 2019 for attempting to engage a child in sexual activity and for breaching a sexual harm prevention order, followed by another prison stint in August 2020 after being caught again shortly after release.
Currently, Jack has admitted to four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
He appeared before Newcastle Crown Court, where Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC sentenced him to ten months in prison.
Additionally, a new ten-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, along with sex offender registration requirements.
The judge described Jack, who is now without a fixed address and previously based in Gateshead, as a troubled individual with limited mental capacity, stating, "You have chosen to ignore the rules and the order to stop you doing this." The pre-sentence report expressed concern about his lack of insight and the risks he poses to the public.
During sentencing, Jack questioned whether he could serve the full sentence rather than be released halfway through, saying, "Can I do the full amount?
I don't want to be released at half way." He was told it is law that he is likely to be eligible for release after serving five months.
Defence counsel Alec Burns explained that the offences for which Jack was recently convicted pre-date his previous sentences, citing delays in bringing the case to court as a factor.
