Justin Matthews sentenced to 15 years jail for sexual abuse of teen girls
An Upper Hunter man travelled across NSW to sexually abuse young girls, who he groomed on Facebook and Snapchat, for several years. He has learned his fate.
Newcastle
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An Upper Hunter man sexually abused a 14-year-old girl he groomed on Snapchat more than 50 times over several years — meeting up with her to have sex in a bush and at a motel.
Justin Matthews, now 39, abused six teen girls aged between 13 and 16, from mid-2016 until he was arrested in January 2021.
The court heard the Muswellbrook man abused one victim for several years, first meeting up with the 14-year-old at the local train station before the pair had sex in a bush.
He was 33 at the time.
Police facts detailed how Matthews and the girl, who is not related to him, would meet on the train and at his Muswellbrook home on several occasions, as well as at a Charlestown motel.
He also made child abuse material of the young girl, producing 75 images and 10 videos of a sexual nature.
The court heard he had sex with the victim over 50 times.
Matthews has pleaded guilty to 13 child abuse charges, which include sexual assault of a child, possessing child abuse material, using a child to make child abuse material, grooming a child for sexual activity and using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16.
In Newcastle District Court on Wednesday he was sentenced to 15 years jail, with a non-parole period of seven and a half years. With time already served he’s eligible for release in 2029.
Other details also emerged that he met his victims on Facebook and Snapchat and would send hundreds of messages and images to them.
The court heard on one occasion he travelled to one victim’s home in the southwestern NSW community of Young, and spent seven days with the 13-year-old without her father’s permission.
During sentencing, Judge Roy Ellis said Matthews had a limited criminal history and due to his mental health issues would find time in custody more onerous.
The court heard the 39-year-old had a cognitive disability and presented as a developmentally immature person according to psychological reports.
“It’s clear he’s entitled to reduced moral culpability, it’s likely he did not have a full understanding of his conduct or the consequences for victims or himself,” Judge Ellis said.
“But these are serious offences against children.”
Court documents have also revealed one of the victims was also abused by Matthews father, Clifford. The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to five charges of having sex with a person aged between 14 and 16.
He is set to be sentenced in Newcastle District Court next month.
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