Matthew Lee Scaife

A 'dangerous and depraved' paedophile from Scarborough has been jailed for 20 years following a series of sexual offences against a vulnerable 12-year-old girl. Matthew Lee Scaife, aged 36, targeted the child, grooming her before subjecting her to rape and sexual assault in the summer of 2016. The case came to light after indecent images of children were discovered on his devices in March 2017, leading to a thorough investigation by North Yorkshire Police.

At York Crown Court, Scaife was found guilty of nine serious offences, including four counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of making indecent images of children (Category B and C material). The court heard how Scaife exploited the girl's vulnerability, deliberately choosing her as a target due to her susceptibility. Judge Simon Hickey described him as 'dangerous' during sentencing, stating: 'I am certain you knew that she was a vulnerable girl and that is why you targeted her and groomed her. You are, in my judgement, dangerous.' The sentencing took place on Friday, 23 October 2020, as reported by the Yorkshire Post.

• Scaife resided at Crown Terrace in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
• The abuse occurred over the summer period of 2016, with the indecent images offences uncovered in March 2017.
• In addition to the 20-year custodial sentence, Scaife received an extended five-year licence period upon release, a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and indefinite placement on the sex offenders' register.

Detective Sergeant Lee Allenby, from the Online Abuse & Exploitation Team at North Yorkshire Police, commended the investigation led by Detective Constable Clair Gascoyne. He praised the victim's bravery, noting: 'First and foremost, it is very pleasing that we have been able to secure justice for the brave victim who has endured significant abuse and trauma at such a young age. We truly hope the outcome at court provides some comfort and gives her strength for the future. As for Matthew Scaife, he is clearly a very dangerous and depraved individual who is rightfully in prison for a very long time. Not only that, he will be closely monitored by the authorities for the rest of his life.' The case underscores the ongoing efforts by North Yorkshire Police to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.