A pedophile jailed after paying a woman $300 to send him a video of herself sexually abusing a child will be released from prison despite a psychological report rating his risk of sexual reoffending as “above average”.
Matthew Kelly was jailed for five years in 2016 after police were alerted to his Facebook posts and raided his Christchurch home, where they seized his computers and mobile phones.
On those devices they found images he had sent to a woman of young children and babies with descriptions of the sex acts he wanted to perform on them.
In August 2014, he contacted a 24-year-old Auckland woman and asked her to send him photos of naked children. He also encouraged her to make a video of her performing a sex act on a one-year-old child and then paid her $300 when she did so.
Kelly was also found with images of naked young girls in sexual poses, and other photos and videos, showing children involved in sexual acts with adults. There was also a video of a woman performing a sex act with a Dalmatian dog.
In February 2014, he contacted two other women online and offered money to have time alone with their young daughters, both under 5 years old. Kelly described in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform.
He was found with around seventy images he had taken of himself wearing only a diaper, as well as eight images of animals involved in sexual acts with children and adults.
Kelly previously pleaded guilty to 16 charges, including one of sexual offense by unlawful sexual connection, five of making an indecent publication and 10 of possession of an indecent publication.
In January 2019, while still in prison, Kelly was sentenced to a further seven and a half years after being found guilty of rape, attempted sexual offense and indecent assault involving two young victims aged 13 and 14 goods.
He raped the older of those two victims in a park next to a church.
The woman who was raped told the court she cut herself by writing the word “whore” on her thigh due to the trauma of the incident.
Kelly's total prison sentence across the two sets of charges was twelve and a half years, meaning he would not be released without parole until 2028. He first became eligible for parole in 2018 and has since been denied parole from prison four times. Than.
He was seen again by the board in April this year, where the panel heard he had completed the rehabilitation programs required of him, been given outside accommodation and had many sessions with a psychologist.
However, a psychological report noted that his risk of sexual reoffending remained “above average”, although this score had fallen since the last assessment.
Kelly said he now knew the triggers and had worked hard to tackle his aggression and emotional and sexual regulation, but acknowledged he would need to continue working on this after his release.
“Mr Kelly was forthright and acknowledged that he has at times demonstrated offensive behavior in defying authority, wanting his own way and demonstrating control,” the board said in its decision, released to NZME.
“He believes he has done enough work to address these matters satisfactorily upon release.
“Mr. Kelly has been able to come to terms with his high-risk situations and understands that he still has a long time to serve his sentence and that he will be recalled if his reintegration is not satisfactory.”
The board said the work Kelly had done, the supportive environment he would be released into and the way he spoke to the board convinced the panel he no longer posed an undue risk to the community.
However, Kelly is still subject to a long list of conditions he must adhere to upon his release.
These conditions include electronic monitoring, adhering to a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., not owning a device that can access the Internet unattended, and not loitering near a school, swimming pool, recreational facility or church .
Kelly must also attend rehabilitation programs and undergo ongoing psychological examinations. He is also not allowed to have any contact with his victims or with anyone under the age of sixteen.
He could be recalled to prison if he violates any of these conditions.
– Jeremy Wilkinson, Open Justice reporter, additional reporting by Kurt Bayer.
SEXUAL HARM
Where to get help:
If it is an emergency and you think you or someone else is in danger, call 911.
If you have ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and would like to talk to someone, you can contact Safe to Talk confidentially 24 hours a day:
• Call 0800 044 334
• Text 4334
• E-mail [email protected]
• Visit safetotalk.nz for more information or web chat
You can also contact your local police station – click here for a list.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember that it is not your fault.