Fake model agent pervert jailed

A court heard that Matthew Pike created a bogus Facebook page and lulled youngsters into his confidence, first encouraging them to send him pictures fully clothed and later persuading them to undress.

A Bolton Crown Court judge was told that in one instance the 28-year-old of Lune Road, Platt Bridge, paid one of the youngsters for the sexualised pictures.

And he also got the minors to sign fake modelling contracts that he had drawn up in order to convince them that this was a genuine route to a career in modelling, rather than simply to satisfy his own sexual urges.

Pike had previously admitted at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court to three charges of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity: namely to take indecent pictures of herself and send them to him.

He had also pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally obtaining

the sexual services of a 15-year-old girl, whom he did not reasonably believe was aged 18 or over, having previously made

payment to her for those services.

The justices were told that the crimes took place while he was on bail for other offences and therefore breached his bail conditions.

He had been committed to Bolton because the Wigan justices felt that the offences were beyond their sentencing powers for them to punish properly.

Pike was jailed for a total of 20 months and he was ordered to sign onto the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years .

A 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also made against him.