Locations
Mandalay Drive, Norton, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5
Description
Matthew Sherwood was concealed by supporters outside Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, ducking down behind three of them, wearing a baseball cap and a Covid mask, as he made his way to the police station to sign the sex offender register.
However, we can now show you the face of the convicted sex offender who tried to contact girls online.
We reported last week how Sherwood, 37, of Mandalay Drive, Norton, Worcester had admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity as well as having indecent images of children.
At the hearing, Sherwood had pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020. He further admitted attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020.
'Attempts' mean the defendant was communicating with a 'decoy', such as a so-called paedophile hunter group or a police officer using fake profiles, rather than an actual child. Sherwood further admitted making indecent photos of a child between April 12, 2020 and June 6, 2020.
He had three category C images, the least serious category within the guidelines.
Because of the serious nature of the case, magistrates declined jurisdiction for the case.
Sherwood, represented at the hearing by city solicitor Mark Sheward, was granted unconditional bail to attend a further hearing at Worcester Crown Court on February 25 this year.
Charles Townsend, chairman of the bench, said: "Despite the fact you have pleaded guilty to all matters - that has has been noted and will be your credit - it will be at crown court that you will receive that credit. The issues are too serious for us to deal with here in the magistrates court."
The bench also requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared by the probation service. A sexual harm prevention order will also have to be agreed and ultimately imposed by a judge sitting at the crown court.
Sherwood was told he needed to sign on as sex offender within three days of the hearing.