Matthew Parker, the Andover Paedophile, coordinated to meet a “13-year-old boy” at a theme park after having groomed him via an online dating application.
Matthew Parker communicated with the boy’s profile, expressing a desire to “kiss, cuddle, and hold hands” following their encounter on Grindr.
The 41-year-old subsequently purchased tickets for the duo to visit Thorpe Park.
The profile of the 13-year-old was, in fact, a fabrication operated by an adult affiliated with the paedophile hunter organisation Child Safe UK.
Matthew Parker, a former officer of the Red Funnel ferry service, was apprehended by law enforcement and admitted guilt to a charge of attempting to facilitate a sexual offence against a minor.
Last Thursday, Matthew Parker received a suspended sentence at Southampton Crown Court.
The court was informed that he initially commenced communication with the boy via Grindr, an online dating platform designed for gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
Prosecutor Nick Wells informed the court that Matthew Parker had said in his profile that he was “exclusively attracted to young men.”
Mr Wells stated that the dialogue between Matthew Parker and the boy thereafter transitioned to the free online chat platform Kik Messenger.
He said Matthew Parker sent a number of “inappropriate messages” to the boy, including telling him he wanted to “kiss, cuddle and hold his hand”, but said that they could do “nothing more”.
Matthew Parker, who was previously employed as a First Officer on Red Funnel, the company that operates ferries to the Isle of Wight, was arrested in July last year after arranging to meet the young boy at Surrey-based theme park, Thorpe Park.
In mitigation, Lucy Conroy said Matthew Parker had undertaken counselling sessions since his arrest.
In sentencing, Judge Gary Burrell QC said Matthew Parker’s case was unusual.
He said: “Throughout the conversation, you do not try to promote messages of a sexual nature, and you do not request sexual pictures or send any yourself. This is unusual [in these cases].”
Matthew Parker, previously of Holbury, near Southampton, but now of Picket Twenty Way, Andover, Hampshire, SP11, was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 55 days of rehabilitation activity requirement, pay £600 in court costs and be made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after the case, a Red Funnel spokesperson said Matthew Parker left the business in October 2018.
The spokesperson added: “As the court ruling against Mr Parker does not pertain to his employment at Red Funnel, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment for legal and data protection reasons.”
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