SEAN MATTHEWS FROM TORQUAY SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON YOUNG GIRLS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Torquay, a man named Sean Matthews has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses involving two young girls. The incidents, which took place over a span of several months, involved Matthews luring the victims into dangerous situations within his own home, leading to serious psychological trauma.

According to court reports, Matthews, aged 35 and residing on Starpitten Grove in Torquay, engaged in a series of predatory acts against two girls aged ten and 14. The younger girl was deceived into being alone with Matthews, during which he exposed himself, solicited her to participate in a sexual act, and ultimately groped her. The older girl, at 14, was trapped in a hallway after Matthews locked the front door behind her. During this terrifying ordeal, he touched her breasts and private parts despite her efforts to resist and escape. She eventually managed to unlock the door and flee outside, where she confided in friends, expressing her fear that Matthews had attempted to rape her.

Both victims endured severe emotional and psychological consequences from these assaults. The younger girl required hospital treatment due to the trauma she experienced. The court heard that Matthews’s actions left lasting scars on the victims, with the 14-year-old girl describing her ordeal as a near-rape incident, which she believed could have resulted in her being sexually assaulted.

Sean Matthews faced multiple charges, including false imprisonment, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of sexual assault. He denied these allegations, but after a trial held in May, he was convicted of all charges. The sentencing took place at Exeter Crown Court, where Judge Timothy Rose handed down an 11-year prison sentence, complemented by a five-year extended license period. Additionally, Matthews was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his future contact with children.

During the sentencing, Judge Rose emphasized the gravity of Matthews’s crimes, stating, “The 14-year-old girl believed she was on the verge of being raped. That demonstrates the seriousness and the frightening nature of the incident. She was distraught, and her victim impact statement clearly shows she was traumatised and scarred. These were serious offences committed against very young girls.” The judge further noted that psychiatric assessments indicated Matthews’s sexual offending behavior had not been modified and that he posed a significant risk to children, labeling him a dangerous offender.

Prosecutor Mr. Richard Crabb provided additional context, revealing that the attack on the 14-year-old occurred in December 2016, while the assaults on the younger girl happened in January and June of 2017. It was also disclosed that Matthews has a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in 2006, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.

In his defense, Matthews’s legal representatives argued that he had been subjected to bullying while in prison and that his parents had ceased visiting him following his conviction. Despite these mitigating factors, the court’s verdict underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing threat he poses to the safety of children in the community of Torquay.