A GROUP of supporters formed a human shield to prevent a photo being taken of a Worcester sex offender after he tried to contact girls online.

Matthew Sherwood had admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity as well as having indecent images of children.

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The 37-year-old of Mandalay Drive, Norton, Worcester could be glimpsed ducking down behind the three people as they screened him from a waiting photographer outside Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Worcester News:

HIDDEN: The three people, who also sat at the back of court, formed a barrier to prevent Sherwood's photo being taken

 

Sherwood was on his way from the court to the police station, also in Castle Street, to sign the sex offender register.

At the hearing Sherwood had pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020. He further admitted attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity between January 31, 2020 and February 8, 2020.

 

Worcester News:

GUILTY: Matthew Sherwood will be given credit for entering his guilty plea so early.

'Attempts' mean the defendant was communicating with a 'decoy', such as a so-called paedophile hunter group or a police officer using fake profiles, rather than an actual child. Sherwood further admitted making indecent photos of a child between April 12, 2020 and June 6, 2020.

He had three category C images, the least serious category within the guidelines.

Because of the serious nature of the case, magistrates declined jurisdiction for the case.

Sherwood, represented at the hearing by city solicitor Mark Sheward, was granted unconditional bail to attend a further hearing at Worcester Crown Court on February 25 this year.

Charles Townsend, chairman of the bench, said: "Despite the fact you have pleaded guilty to all matters - that has has been noted and will be your credit - it will be at crown court that you will receive that credit. The issues are too serious for us to deal with here in the magistrates court."

The bench also requested that a pre-sentence report be prepared by the probation service. A sexual harm prevention order will also have to be agreed and ultimately imposed by a judge sitting at the crown court.

Sherwood was told he needed to sign on as sex offender within three days of the hearing.