Sex offender, 48, who admitted assaulting two young girls can still go on two-week HOLIDAY to Greek Island Kos before he is sentenced
- Sex offender granted permission for Greek island holiday before sentencing
- Matthew Thompson admitted to 10 counts of assault against two young girls
- But his bail has been continued to allow him to travel to Kos for a holiday
- Thompson will be sentenced when he returns to the UK after October 27
A sex offender who admitted to assaulting two young girls has been granted permission to travel to Greece for a holiday before he’s sentenced.
Matthew Thompson, 48, today pleaded guilty to 10 charges in total relating to the abuse of two young girls who cannot be named due to legal reasons.
Judge Jonathan Gibson, who presided over the case at Bradford Crown Court, called the offending ‘extremely serious’ after the defendant accepted guilt for each of the counts.
The charges included assaulting a child under 13 by penetration on no fewer than 10 occasions, taking indecent photographs of a child, possession of extreme pornography depicting sexual activity with an animal and sexual activity with a child.
Judge Jonathan Gibson, who presided over the case at Bradford Crown Court, called the offending ‘extremely serious’ after the defendant accepted guilt for each of the counts
Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offences, Judge Gibson agreed Thompson should be allowed to go on a pre-paid two-week vacation to the Greek island of Kos, for which he will depart the UK on Thursday.
He told the defendant: ‘You’ve pleaded guilty and you will of course get proper credit for your guilty pleas in due course when you’re sentenced.
‘You’ve been on bail and I’m not going to revoke your bail simply because you have entered honest pleas.’
Gillian Batts, representing Thompson, pleaded with Judge Gibson to allow him to depart for his holiday, which he was scheduled to return from on October 27.
She suggested the serious nature of the case would make it appropriate for Thompson, of Barnsley, to ‘sign on’ at a police station between 12pm and 2pm on October 28.
Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offences, Judge Gibson agreed Thompson should be allowed to go on a pre-paid two-week vacation to the Greek island of Kos, for which he will depart the UK on Thursday
Ms Batts advised her client that he would also need to register as a sex offender with the relevant authorities prior to the trip in order to be able to leave the UK.
Completing the ten-minute hearing, Judge Gibson ordered Thompson to report to Barnsley police station on October 28 as part of his bail conditions.
He added: ‘As you know you are now subject to the sex offender registration provisions and you’ll need to report to the police to do that before you go.’
Thompson’s sentence date has now been fixed for November 18.
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