A teenage victim of a young man who used social media to prey on young girls faced him down in court and delivered a powerful message: 'I hope you are going to be punished.' Dylan Matthews, 20, appeared pathetic and alone as he stared at the floor while one of his young victims bravely looked down on him from the witness stand, describing the ongoing effect of his actions.
Background of the Offender
Matthews, of Elmcroft Close in Fazakerley, progressed from a disturbing hunt for extreme pornography to searching for children online, some as young as 12. He demanded sexually explicit images and conversations, often offering vapes and drugs like ketamine and cannabis. When children blocked him, he turned angry and malicious, threatening to expose conversations and images to their schools, friends, or even a girl's boyfriend.
Court Proceedings
Appearing in Liverpool Crown Court over three separate hearings, Matthews pleaded guilty to 53 offences involving 37 victims. The abuse included online incitement and contact offences where he met girls considerably younger than himself. Many victims and their families attended court to face the abuser and have their impact statements read.
Judge Ian Harris told the predator: 'The consequences of your sexual predatory actions are graphically set out in the victim statements. Conversations led to online and physical abuse. Your offending has damaged a lot of your victims and their families.'
Victim Impact Statements
The father of a 14-year-old girl who met Matthews said his daughter had attempted suicide twice. He described Matthews' actions as 'calculated and thought out over a period of months,' with a 'profound impact' on his daughter. She had withdrawn from her family and used self-harm as a release. Her younger sister became scared of her outbursts.
The mother of a 15-year-old victim said her daughter had been 'the victim of exploitation, manipulation and coercion,' resulting in a 'devastating impact.' She added: 'She no longer feels safe and her sense of trust in others is damaged. It has taken away part of her childhood and innocence.'
The mother of a 13-year-old said her daughter experienced 'distress, anxiety and confusion,' leading to feelings of 'shame, fear and distrust.' She described Matthews' actions as 'calculated exploitation that leaves lasting trauma.'
The mother of a 14-year-old said: 'She was a happy little girl before this, confident and active. I now have an angry little girl... she does not know who she can trust. He has taken away her empowerment as a young beautiful female.'
One 14-year-old victim directly addressed Matthews in court: 'I had extreme anxiety that he would find me. Dylan Matthews took away years of my childhood and caused damage that will follow me for the rest of my life. Dylan, I hope you think about what you did for the rest of your life. I hope you are going to be punished.'
Defence Mitigation
Damian Nolan, defending, said Matthews began unsupervised access to social media at age 10, leading to an interest in extreme pornography. By his mid-teens, he was desensitized and began contacting girls. Nolan argued the offending was due to 'a lack of appropriate parenting,' but Matthews had 'taken responsibility by pleading guilty.' He described the offending as stemming from 'sexual preoccupation, emotional immaturity, and poor self-management.'
Sentencing
Judge Harris sentenced Matthews to seven years and one month in a young offenders' institution. He will remain on the sex offenders' register for life and be automatically barred from working with children. A sexual harm prevention order will be discussed later. During sentencing, Matthews sat hunched over, holding his head in his hands. The judge remarked: 'I note you have your head in your hands in the dock. As well you may.'
Detective Sergeant Amie Jones of Merseyside Police said: 'Matthews has been proven to be a prolific, calculated and dangerous offender, who caused extreme harm to his victims through coercion and abuse. We hope that today's outcome provides a measure of comfort as they continue their recovery.'
