Sicko F45 personal trainer Matthew Minney avoids jail time for child sex grooming charges
A Navy veteran and former F45 Keysborough personal trainer who groomed underage girls via social media is free to roam the streets partly because he had to be in bed by 7.30pm every night until the age of 18.
South East
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A Langwarrin personal trainer exposed as a sicko sex fiend after he groomed two targets he believed were underage schoolgirls has avoided a jail sentence.
Matthew Minney, 30, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to three-year adjourned undertaking after pleading guilty to use a carriage service to groom a child under 16.
Minney sent sordid messages via social media KiK to undercover police posing as underage teen girls between May and September last year.
The court was told Minney – who also pleaded guilty to solicit child porn using a carriage service – groomed his targets and solicited lewd images.
Minney, a personal trainer who managed the Keysborough F45 gym at the time of the offending, knew both his targets were underage and at school.
Minney told his first target: “You know I want you as my girl.”
The operative replied she knew Minney had a “GF” and “she will kill me”.
“We will be each other’s secret,” Minney said.
Minney asked his target if she was at school today and what kind of “relationship” she wanted.
The operative sent Minney a photo at his request of a young girl with blonde hair and a pink T-shirt.
“I think we could have a lot of fun together,” Minney replied.
Minney texted his target another time while the operative pretended to be sick in bed.
“Good cuddle weather,” Minney said.
“Anyone looking after you? … Shame I’m home alone: P.”
“U don’t want my flu tho,” the operative said.
“Hmmm maybe still worth it,” Minney said.
Minney messaged the girl saying he wanted to see her because “from what I’ve seen you are hot”.
He then asked for another “pic”.
The operative sent through a similar photo.
“Thought you would send something different tho … as in so I could see more of you,” Minney said.
The operative then sent two images of a girl in underwear and a bra.
Minney then requested an image of the girl while she was in the bathroom.
“I want to see all of you!!,” he said.
“By the way my fav part of a girl is her ass.
“You are really sexy.
“One more pic please … Of your face and body. Oh and one of your butt!!!.”
The operative told Minney she had recently turned 15 and the pair discussed the legality of their correspondence.
“Well technically I shouldn’t be doing anything with you until you are 16,” Minney said.
The sex creep then asked the operative to meet him in person.
Minney messaged his second target in September.
He learned early that he was messaging a purported 14-year-old schoolgirl.
Minney continued his lewd messaging and even asked his victim about her sexual experience.
“What’s the oldest you’ve ever been with,” he said.
He also requested a photo of the girl at her school.
“Let me see my girl xx,” he said.
Minney requested to meet his target then police — who had been onto the pervert since January — pounced and raided his home on October 3.
Investigators seized his phone and several images he received from a target.
Minney told police he “picked up pretty quickly that it was a fake profile”.
Minney claimed he continued communication for “entertainment”.
The court was told Minney was in the navy from 2009 to 2017 before he commenced working as a personal trainer.
Leader understands he served the majority of his Navy career serving on ships based in NSW. Royal Australian Navy photos from 2013 show Minney on-board HMAS Ballarat.
Minney, a dad, also managed the Keysborough F45 gym while he offended.
He and his wife had purchased a home but she left him after learning about his crimes.
It was submitted the couple sold their home at a loss and what was left went to Minney’s ex-wife who had recently given birth to their first child.
Judge Scott Johns said the content of Minney’s messages was “disturbing” and children must be protected from “predators” like him.
Judge Johns also dismissed Minney’s assertions to police that he knew the profiles he chatted with fake.
However, Judge Johns took into account Minney’s deprived childhood including being made to go to bed by 7.30pm every night until age 18.
Minney was jailed for Two-and-a-half years but was released on a good behaviour bond for three years.
He must undertake a sex offender treatment program.
Minney was also handed a Two-and-a-half year community correction order was and made a registered sex offender for 15 years.
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