NORTHCHURCH MAN SENTENCED TO 3.5 YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT

A man deemed a 'dangerous' sex offender, who maintained that his conduct was merely an 'innocent massage,' has received a prison sentence of three and a half years. Matthew Rattenbury, aged 42, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor. During his court hearing at Basildon Crown Court, he denied the allegations, claiming his actions were part of a benign massage. The jury, however, rejected his defense after a trial lasting three days. Rattenbury, who lives on High Street in Northchurch, Hertfordshire, was caught on video committing the assault by an eyewitness. As a result, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison; his sentence is to be served equally in custody and on licence. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Detective Constable Jane Grieve from Essex Police emphasized the significance of the witness's testimony, saying: "The eyewitness observed behaviour that they instinctively recognized as inappropriate, and they had the foresight to record the incident. This evidence enabled us to build a case and secure a conviction. Our focus on evidence-led prosecutions underscores our commitment to protecting children by bringing offenders to justice. Even without the victim’s direct evidence, we pursued this case to ensure justice was served." His lifelong monitoring includes registration and restrictions designed to prevent further harm, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the danger he poses. Authorities praised the witness’s crucial role, noting that filming and sharing the footage played a key part in the conviction. They also urged others who have experienced or suspect child sexual abuse to come forward and report, highlighting ongoing police efforts to safeguard children and combat abuse.