Malvern East ‘family man’ Matthew Hickey sentenced in County Court for grooming teenage girls

A grubby Malvern East “family man” has been busted grooming two teenage girls, telling a “school age” teen she was “old enough” and offering her cash to meet up.

Matthew Hickey was jailed for grooming two teenage girls.

A Malvern East “family man” has been exposed for grooming two teenage girls while away for work from his wife and kids.

Matthew Hickey, 51, was jailed on Tuesday at the County Court for two years and three months after pleading guilty to grooming two teenage girls for child abuse material and sex with cash.

The court heard the “loving father” had moved to Kerang to work at Kerfab Industries where, isolated from his family, he started to drink heavily.

Hickey offered the teens cash for nude images and to meet up for sex.

Hickey started “intimately messaged” the two children on Instagram, offering them cash in exchange for nude images because he was “bored, lonely and unhappy”, his barrister told the court.

The court heard Hickey received sexual images from the children and sent one of the girls a video of himself masturbating.

During the messaging Hickey described to one teen having a wife and children and stated he enjoyed speaking to a 15-year-old, sending her $400 over a number of months for the child abuse material.

Hickey told the other teen, who had made “multiple references about being school age” that she was “old enough”, offering her $200 to meet up for sex, saying: “I will f--k you slowly”, and putting the cash in her letterbox.

Hickey’s barrister blamed the pedo’s alcoholism and loneliness, claiming Hickey was seeking companionship during a dark period of his life.

Hickey’s barrister submitted character references from his family – who have stood by him throughout proceedings – describing “a man who was a loving father and member of the community.”

Hickey blamed his alcoholism for his offending.

“A person other parents could rely on and trust him with their children.”

The defence asked for a mercifully short sentence, with the majority of it served in the community after a psychological report found Hickey would “not cope well with imprisonment” and was at risk of his mental health deteriorating.

But Judge Anne Hassan denounced Hickey’s “serious offending”, finding there was no excuse for his actions.

“You initiated contact and actively pursued two underage girls with the objective of sexual contact,” she said.

“You groomed both girls with the offer of money … this is highly corrupting and morally reprehensible behaviour.”

Judge Hassan said the court needed to send a message that would-be child predators who exploited children would be met with “stern punishment”.

Hickey was jailed for two years and three months for grooming children.

“Children and young people must feel safe to go about their lives free of the unwanted and harmful sexual advances of adults.”

“The message must be sent loud and clear that children under the age of 16 are not sexually available to adults.”

Judge Hassan accepted the groomer was previously of good character, was of low risk of reoffending, had good prospects of rehabilitation, and was at risk while incarcerated and would likely suffer more than the average crim.

Judge Hassan also took into account that Hickey had since lost his job and his reputation, which the defence argued was extra curial punishment.

Hickey was placed on the sex offenders register for life and given a non-parole period of one year and three months and will be eligible for release on August 25, 2025.

If Hickey had not pleaded guilty, he would have been jailed for four years with a non-parole period of two years and six months.