A MAN working in Kerang was increasingly “bored, lonely and unhappy” in the township when he began contacting and grooming underage girls on Instagram, a court has heard.
Matthew Hickey, 51, was sentenced to term of imprisonment in the Victorian County Court, sitting in Bendigo, on May 21.
The father-of-two, who travelled back to his family in Melbourne on weekends, pleaded guilty to two charges of grooming for sexual conduct a child under 16, one charge of possession of child abuse material, and one charge of sexual activity in the presence of a child.
The court heard Hickey sent the first victim, then aged 15, a message through Instagram in September 2021 offering her alcohol if she would visit him in Kerang.
Throughout October and November 2021, Hickey intermittently contacted the victim and asked for photos and asked if she would go on a date.
The court was told that despite the victim telling him she was only 15, Hickey proceeded to send $410 in seven transactions, and continued to message and ask for photos.
In one message, he said he enjoyed speaking to a 15-year-old and in another message said, “What I am doing is a bit risky so please don’t tell anybody. I could go to gaol, but you’re worth it.”
The victim’s mother discovered the money in her daughter’s account.
Hickey was arrested and during a police interview, he admitted he knew the victim’s age and that we was looking for sexual contact.
The court heard Hickey admitted to being in contact with another underage female, a 14-year-old, starting in May 2022.
Judge Anne Hassan told the court that between May and September 2022, Hickey sent sexualised messages to this victim and received nude and semi-nude photographs from her, including photographs of her bare stomach, breasts and sexualised photos. He also dropped money in her letterbox.
Hickey offered her money in exchange for photographs. He also requested to meet with her and sent her sexually explicit messages before sending a video of him masturbating in the shower.
“During your exchanges, (she) made multiple references to being only 14. You persisted and told her that you ‘wanted to f*** her’,” Judge Hassan said.
Hickey’s wife of 21 years wrote a supportive reference, saying he had for the most part been in a “happy and loving marriage, and that he was a supportive and hands-on father”.
A psychiatrist said Hickey reported becoming increasingly bored, lonely and unhappy in Kerang.
The psychiatrist gave the opinion that Hickey offended in the “context of isolation, declining mental health and increased alcohol consumption”.
“He gives the opinion that your offending occurred under specific circumstances and that you do not present a risk of reoffending. I note that you have no prior criminal history,” Judge Hassan said.
Hickey’s defence lawyer submitted his client had lost employment and reputation and the judge should take this into consideration as “extra-curial punishment”.
Judge Hassan said this was a case of serious offending where Hickey initiated contact with, and actively pursued, two underage girls with a clear objective of sexual contact.
“I accept your offending was situational. However, I note there is no real explanation in any of the material why you specifically pursued underage girls rather than adult women,” Judge Hassan said.
“You groomed both girls with the offer of money and in both cases you made payments to your victim. This is highly corrupting and morally reprehensible behaviour. In (one victim’s) case you also exchanged sexually explicit material. Your moral culpability was high.”
Judge Hassan assessed Hickey’s risk of reoffending as low and prospects of rehabilitation as good, and that he had made attempts to address alcoholism and mental health difficulties, and that he was remorseful.
She said children and young people must feel safe to go about their lives and enjoy their lives free of the unwanted and harmful sexual advances of adults.
“It is the obligation of the law to make it clear to anyone who would behave as you did that this kind of behaviour will result in stern punishment and to unequivocally denounce such conduct,” Judge Hassan said.
“The message must be sent loud and clear that children and young people under the age of 16 are not sexually available to adults.”
Hickey was jailed for two years and three months, with a non-parole period of one year, three months.
He will be on the sex offender register for life.
