Falklands : Matthew John Newton Gets 3 Years in Jail
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 23.01.2011 (Article Archived on 06.02.2011)
Matthew John NEWTON, 24 years, has today been sentenced at the Supreme Court to a total of 3 years imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to three offences of sexual activity with children aged 13, 14 and 15 years committed between 2005 and 2008.
18 January 2011
MATTHEW JOHN NEWTON
Matthew John NEWTON, 24 years, has today been sentenced at the Supreme Court to a total of 3 years imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to three offences of sexual activity with children aged 13, 14 and 15 years committed between 2005 and 2008. He received an 18 month sentence in respect of the child aged 15 years, 2 years in respect of the child aged 14 years and 3 years in respect of the child aged 13 years. The sentences will be served concurrently resulting in a total of 3 years imprisonment. Mr NEWTON was also served with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will be listed on the Sex Offenders' Register.
Speaking after sentencing, Chief Superintendent Gary Finchett, Director of Community Safety and Chief Police Officer, said, “NEWTON was an adult when he perpetrated serious sexual offences against several young females who he knew to be under 16 years of age. Despite knowing their vulnerability, he committed serious offences against them for his own sexual gratification. There can be no excuse for his actions.”
Mr Finchett went on to state that this case was another example of where the Royal Falkland Islands Police will relentlessly continue to pursue perpetrators even though some time may have elapsed since their commission saying, “Criminals need to fear us and should continue looking over their shoulder long after they’ve committed their crimes and thought they’d got away with it.”
Mr Finchett thanked the Attorney Generals Chambers and prosecution team for the very professional manner in which they presented the case. He also stated this was another example of an excellent investigation by the Royal Falkland Islands Police and Social Work Department who had shown they were ready and able to deal with complex criminal cases which in other countries would be investigated by specialist teams of staff.
Mr Finchett said, “I hope this case sends a salutary message to people who have committed or intend to commit sexual acts against children under the age of 16 years. It may be an inconvenient truth, but I know there are a small group of people, usually young males who seek to befriend younger females with the intention of having sexual relations with them. My message to them is clear, ‘Don’t’. If you do, we will pursue you relentlessly and you will be subject to the full force of the law.”
Mr Finchett also reminded potential victims that they need to empower themselves to say ‘no’, even though considerable pressure is being exerted on them by people who may be older or more mature than themselves, saying, “Never do something you don’t want to do just to please someone else. It’s your body and you have the right to say no.” He also stated that he was in discussion with the Social Work Department regarding an information leaflet for young persons about keeping themselves safe.
Finally, Mr Finchett encouraged victims who may have been abused, or young people under the age of 16 years who feel under pressure to commit sexual acts to come forward, saying, “We know that a person who commits unlawful sexual acts with a young person under 16 years and gets away with it is likely to re-offend, often until they are caught. You need to ask yourself whether you want this to happen to you or another person. You have the power to stop it by saying ‘no’ and coming forward.”
Mr Finchett stated that dedicated police officers and staff from the Social Work Department have been specially trained to deal with these types of serious offences and were ready to listen to and support victims in a sensitive and supportive manner.
For further information, please contact Director of Community Safety and Chief Police Officer Gary Finchett on 28100.
Chief Superintendent Gary Finchett
Royal Falkland Islands Police
18 January 2011
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