MATTHEW PROCTER FROM WAPLINGTON INVOLVED IN SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DURHAM

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the East Yorkshire community, Matthew Procter, a young man from Waplington, was found guilty of serious sexual offences involving a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which spanned over four months, involved the exchange of explicit messages and images between Procter and the underage girl, raising significant concerns about online safety and the exploitation of minors.

According to court proceedings, the teenager, who was a sixth former at a school in Durham, engaged in a series of increasingly explicit communications with the girl. These exchanges included not only sexually explicit messages but also the sharing of intimate photographs of themselves. The girl was coerced into performing various sex acts on herself at Procter's behest, illustrating a disturbing pattern of manipulation and exploitation.

Further revelations during the trial indicated that Procter, upon discovering that the girl had a younger sister, even suggested that she involve her in similar activities. This suggestion underscored the malicious intent and the predatory nature of his actions. The court was told that the contents of the girl’s phone, which her father discovered after she fell asleep returning from school in April of the previous year, were instrumental in uncovering the extent of Procter's misconduct. Despite her initial reluctance to reveal her social media details, the evidence was eventually obtained, leading to police intervention.

Prosecutor Sarah Mallett explained that the girl had contacted Procter via social media in December of the previous year. She was under significant pressure from him to send nude photographs and felt anxious about the consequences of not complying. Over time, her resistance diminished, and she became more compliant with his demands. The court heard that on May 1 of the previous year, Procter was arrested at Durham School. During police interviews, he claimed he did not force her to send images but admitted that the pictures were sexual in nature and acknowledged her age, stating, “it was wrong.”

It was also revealed that Procter had been in contact with other girls, sending them indecent images, although police were unable to trace these other communications. Now aged 18, Procter faced multiple charges, including three counts of distributing indecent images of children, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of making indecent images of children.

Judge Simon Hickey, presiding over the case, noted that the offences were committed when Procter was 16 and 17 years old. While he initially considered a custodial sentence of one year, suspended for a year, the judge ultimately decided that a more constructive approach would be a three-year community order. This order includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement aimed at addressing his behavior.

Additionally, Procter was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his future use of the internet, and he will be required to register as a sex offender. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in tackling online exploitation and protecting vulnerable minors from predatory behavior, especially in small communities like Waplington and Durham.