Muswellbrook’s Clifford Matthews jailed for the sexual abuse of a young girl over several years

A Muswellbrook man, who sexually abused a young girl over several years, offering her money and smokes for sexual acts has been sentenced. Read what happened.

Clifford Matthews was jailed in Newcastle District Court on Tuesday. Picture: Amy Ziniak

It was a twisted relationship where an Upper Hunter man in his 50s offered a young girl money and smokes in exchange for sexual acts.

Police facts have revealed how Clifford Noel Matthews, now 62, sexually abused the teenager – who would sometimes stay at the family home in Muswellbrook – over several years when she was aged 14 and 15.

Clifford pleaded guilty to four charges of having sex with a person between 14-16 and on Tuesday in Newcastle’s District Court was jailed for six years and six months, with a non-parole period of four years.

Court documents uncovered the sickening encounters between Clifford and the young girl where he would drive her to sometimes secluded areas and ask her to perform sexual acts.

When the girl was 14, he took her to a cemetery in Gunnedah and gave her $50 saying “give me a blowjob”, while on another occasion he drove her to Merewether Beach and did sexual acts with her in the car before giving her $20.

Clifford Noel Matthews has been jailed for sexually abusing a young girl. Picture: Facebook

Police facts also said when the girl was 15, Clifford gave her a packet of smokes for oral sex after picking her up from the Singleton train station and driving her to the local cemetery.

The 62-year-old also had sex with the teen in his car near Rutherford and again at Islington Park.

Following an investigation, Clifford was arrested and charged over the offences in September last year.

Police facts stated the victim made a statement to police in February and again in March this year implicating both the 62-year-old and also his son.

Last month, Matthews jnr was also jailed for 15 years with a non-parole period of seven years and a half years.

He pleaded guilty to 13 child abuse charges, which included sexual assault, possession of child abuse material and grooming.

Matthews jnr, now 39, abused six teen girls aged between 13 and 16, from mid-2016 until he was arrested in January 2021.

The court heard he abused one victim for several years, and had sex with her over 50 times including in a bush and at a Charlestown Motel.

He also made child abuse material of the teenager, producing 75 images and 10 videos of a sexual nature.

Court documents detailed how Matthews jnr would meet his victims on Facebook and Snapchat and would send hundreds of messages and images to them.