SCARBOROUGH MAN MATTHEW PREW ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE PLEA FOR SEXUAL PHOTOS OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In August 2022, a man from Scarborough named Matthew John Prew, aged 27, narrowly avoided imprisonment after a disturbing incident involving online predatory behavior came to light.The case unfolded when Prew was targeted by a vigilant group dedicated to exposing online predators, often referred to as paedophile hunters.
Members of this group tracked down Prew after he had engaged in a series of inappropriate online communications.
They arrived unannounced at his residence in Scarborough and live-streamed the confrontation on social media platforms, bringing significant public attention to the case.
The group had collected evidence indicating that Prew had contacted what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, but in reality, he was communicating with an adult decoy posing as a minor.
According to the court proceedings, the group had set up a fake social media account under the guise of a 14-year-old girl, complete with photos and a fictitious identity.
Over the course of more than a month, Prew engaged with this account, expressing a desire to meet the girl and requesting sexual photographs.
The evidence presented to the court showed that Prew had explicitly asked the decoy for sexually explicit images, believing he was communicating with a minor.
Prosecutor David Ward explained that Prew, who is married, had initiated contact with the decoy and maintained communication over a period from March 23 to April 29.
The group’s efforts culminated on the night of April 29, when two members arrived at Prew’s home around 11:30 pm.
They confronted him directly on his doorstep, which led to police being called to the scene.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officers arrested Prew.
During police interviews, he admitted to the allegations, claiming that he did not actively seek out underage contacts but was responding to friend suggestions prompted by Facebook’s algorithms.
However, he also confessed to requesting sexual photos from the decoy.
Prew was taken into custody and charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.
He appeared in court on Thursday, August 4, where he pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court heard that the offending behavior took place between March 23 and April 29.
In sentencing, Prew received a two-year community order.
This order includes participation in a sex-offenders’ rehabilitation program and other activities aimed at preventing reoffending.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and was subject to a sexual-harm prevention order, reflecting the seriousness of the case and the measures taken to protect the community.
