Liverpool man jailed for multiple child sex offences

Detectives from our specialist Child Criminal and Sexual Exploitation Team (CCSET) are welcoming the sentencing of a Walton man to seven years and one month in prison for multiple sexual offences.

Dylan Matthews, 20, of Elmcroft Close, pleaded guilty to 53 charges against 37 victims.

Matthews was initially arrested in 2024 following an allegation of online sexual offences against a girl under 16, who he targeted via Snapchat and Whatsapp. Following an extensive investigation, further victims were identified who Matthews had targeted using similar methods, and he admitted the following offences:

• One count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• One count of threatening to disclose private sexual images with intent
• Two counts of sexual activity with a child
• Six counts of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child
• 37 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
• Two counts of making indecent images of children – Class B
• Three counts of making indecent images of children – Class C
• One count of malicious communications 

Matthews was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 12 June. He will also be subject of Sex offender notification for life.

In excerpts from Victim Personal Statements, parents of two of Matthews’ victims discuss the impact of his crimes:

“As a parent it is extremely painful to watch your child try to understand and process something so inappropriate and harmful, when she should have been focussing on growing up, learning and enjoying her childhood, not coping with emotional consequences of someone else’s actions. 

“This crime has changed how my child views the world. Trust, once given freely, must now be built slowly and carefully. The psychological effects of this crime are not temporary… healing does not erase the harm that has been done.

“This was not a harmless interaction, this is calculated exploitation that leaves lasting trauma. My child deserved safety, protection and respect, instead she was manipulated and harmed.”

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“Our daughter has been deeply affected by what happened. She has experienced anxiety, loss of trust, and a heightened sense of vulnerability. Situations that once felt normal now cause her distress, and her confidence in interacting with others, particularly online, has been shaken. This has had a lasting psychological impact on her day-to-day life.

“We feel that are sense of security has been taken away and replaced with constant concern and self-doubt. We hope the court understands the lasting impact this has had… on our entire family. What has happened cannot simply be undone. It has changed how our daughter sees the world and how we, as her parents, are able to support her growing independence.”

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Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Amie Jones from CCSET, said: “Matthews has been proven to be a prolific, calculated and dangerous offender, who caused extreme harm to his victims through coercion and abuse. We hope that today’s outcome provides a measure of comfort as they continue their recovery, and some reassurance that Matthews will be in custody for a significant length of time.

“As the investigation progressed, we were able to identify more of his victims. I want to take this opportunity to praise each of them and their families for their courage and strength in helping with our enquiries. We do not take for granted how difficult it can be to speak about being a victim of sexual abuse, and to provide evidence to police.

“Be assured that in all such investigations, our specialist team is here to support victims with sensitivity and compassion, every step of the way, from the initial report through to court proceedings. I would continue to urge anyone who is a victim of any form of sexual abuse to please report this to police, or through our partner agencies.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and in addition, work with partner organisations such as Victim care Support Service and RASA who are there to support victims of this crime.”

To report a sexual offence you can call 101, where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.

If you have been a victim of sexual offences, you can access specialist support services, which are free of charge and available to anyone. You do not need a referral or to have reported an incident to Merseyside Police before you access these specialist support services.

These services can support you in a variety of ways, including offering a confidential discussion if you are thinking of making a police report, but are unsure what that involves and would like to discuss it.

If you are a child or young person suffering sexual or physical abuse, the following organisations can also provide help and support:

NSPCC – call 0808 800 5000 or e-mail [email protected] 

Childline – call 0800 1111

You can report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences anonymously here: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/how-to-report-rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/  

There is a lot of support available from specialist officers within Merseyside Police and through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.

In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.