MATTHIAS HEINRICHS GROOMS TEENAGER IN KEIGHLEY AND HOLLAND AND IS JAILED

In November 2012, a disturbing case unfolded involving Matthias Heinrichs, a missionary associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Keighley. The 23-year-old Dutch national was convicted of heinous crimes related to the sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old girl whom he met through his missionary work.

Heinrichs, who was actively involved in door-to-door preaching and community engagement as part of his religious duties, formed a seemingly friendly relationship with the girl and her family. Despite her not being a member of the Mormon congregation, he was invited into their home for meals and social interactions. During his time in Keighley, he built a rapport with the girl, which later turned into a disturbing grooming process.

After returning to Holland, Heinrichs maintained contact with the girl through various digital platforms, including text messages, emails, and Facebook. The situation escalated when he returned to Keighley, and the girl, under the influence of her trust in him, sneaked out to meet him. During these meetings, Heinrichs preached to her using scripture from the Book of Mormon, but his intentions were far darker. He encouraged her to take indecent photographs of herself and send them to him, further exploiting her vulnerability.

The case revealed that Heinrichs had also been in contact with two other young girls, aged 12 and 13. Initially, they believed him to be harmless and fun, but as their interactions continued, they found his messages increasingly inappropriate and unsettling, describing him as “creepy.”

At Bradford Crown Court, Judge John Potter sentenced Heinrichs to two years in prison after he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including meeting a child following sexual grooming and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The judge described Heinrichs’ actions as nothing less than sexual abuse, emphasizing that he had encouraged the girl to engage in child pornography purely for his own sexual gratification. The judge also noted that Heinrichs had incited her to send explicit images of herself.

During the sentencing, Judge Potter highlighted that Heinrichs’ conduct was a clear case of exploitation by someone eight years her senior. Heinrichs stood in the dock with his head bowed and hands clasped, showing remorse or perhaps resignation as the court delivered its verdict.

In mitigation, Heinrichs’ lawyer, Sophie Drake, pointed out that he was of previously good character and dedicated to his church. She stressed that he had never physically assaulted the girl, attempting to portray him as less culpable.

Following the case, the mother of the 13-year-old girl, who found Heinrichs “creepy” after he contacted her and her friend, described him as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” to the Telegraph & Argus. The community and authorities expressed their relief at the custodial sentence, with Detective Constable Sonia Hutchinson of the Child and Public Protection Unit praising the victim’s bravery and the cooperation of the Mormon church in the investigation. She emphasized that the sentence sends a strong message to others contemplating similar grooming behavior.