Former Bank of England Cyber-Security Expert Jailed for Seven Years for Attempted Child Sex Abuse

Matthew Millen, a 44-year-old former Bank of England cyber-security expert, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child. Millen had traveled by train to Southampton with the intention of having sex with a young girl he believed to be named Grace. He had even planned to record the encounter.

However, "Grace" was actually an undercover police officer. Millen was arrested at a McDonald's in the Westquay Shopping Centre and subsequently convicted at Southampton Crown Court. His initial three-year sentence was deemed unduly lenient and referred to the Attorney General under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

The Court of Appeal reviewed the case and increased Millen's sentence to seven years imprisonment. The new Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, expressed his shock and disgust at Millen's "wicked intentions," stating that it was only through the diligence of police and others that his criminal activity did not escalate further.

During the trial, a jury unanimously found Millen guilty based on "compelling evidence." Millen had attempted to defend himself by claiming he was a paedophile hunter trying to catch Grace's father, but this argument was rejected by the court.

In addition to the prison sentence, Millen has been placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.