Man Jailed for Attempting to Engage in Sexual Communication with a Child Online

Matthew Jenkins, 35, of Flaxley Close in Redditch, was sentenced to four years in prison at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday (15 October) for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child online.

Jenkins pleaded guilty to all charges, including attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity and attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 in sexual activity. He received concurrent sentences of 18 months for these offenses.

Jenkins, who was previously known as Marcus Benjamin Pearson, was placed on the sex offenders register and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

The investigation revealed that Jenkins had engaged in sexual communication with an online profile of a 13-year-old child. He had sent videos of himself masturbating and incited the child profile to do the same.

West Mercia Police's Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) arrested Jenkins at his home in Redditch in May 2022. Evidence including photographs taken at the scene and clothing that matched those in the online communication was collected.