LEAMINGTON PERVERT TERENCE MATTHEWS CAUGHT IN SHOCKING UNDER-AGE SEX STING

In August 2014, a disturbing incident unfolded in Leamington involving a man named Terence Matthews, who was caught in a covert operation targeting online grooming and attempted sexual contact with a minor. The case drew significant attention due to the calculated nature of the sting and the subsequent legal proceedings.

Matthews, aged 56 and residing on Bury Road in Leamington, arrived at a supermarket car park expecting to meet a 14-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him, he was actually confronting a group of individuals who had orchestrated the meeting as part of a police-led operation designed to catch predators. Matthews arrived carrying a bottle of vodka, which he claimed the girl had expressed a desire to have during their planned encounter.

The police had traced Matthews through his vehicle registration number following the sting. The incident was recorded, and the footage was later uploaded to YouTube, capturing the moment Matthews was confronted by members of the group, including John Stokes, who was part of a collective known as Letz Go Hunting. The group had set up the meeting after Matthews had engaged in online conversations with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Simon Phillips detailed the background of the case, revealing that Matthews initially made contact with the girl via an internet chat site at the beginning of March of the previous year. The girl’s profile, which used her real name and included a photograph of a school-age girl in uniform, claimed she was 14. However, the profile was a fake, created by John Stokes and his group, to lure potential predators. Despite the deception, Matthews continued communication, expressing interest in meeting her and making inappropriate comments about her teachers, as well as sharing a picture of himself in school uniform.

When the two arranged to meet, Matthews brought along a bottle of vodka, which the girl had supposedly requested. Instead of meeting the girl, Matthews was met by the group, who had set a trap. The confrontation was recorded and later made public online. Matthews was identified through his vehicle’s registration details and subsequently arrested. During police interviews, Matthews, who had no prior convictions, denied any intention of engaging in unlawful activity. He claimed he believed the girl was 19 and dismissed her comments about being 14 as “just banter.”

Following legal proceedings, Matthews pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to attempting to meet a girl under 16 for sexual activity following grooming. His case was then adjourned for a pre-sentence report at Coventry Crown Court. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for two years. The judge, Richard Griffith-Jones, also imposed a two-year supervision order, mandated his participation in a sex offender treatment program, and required him to register as a sex offender for five years. Additionally, a sexual offences prevention order was issued against him for ten years, reflecting the seriousness of his actions and the ongoing risk he posed.