
Arrested
Stephens was arrested on Tuesday 11 August 2015 after his crimes were reported to Kent Police.
He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday 27 June.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Ron Smith said: “Matthew Stephens groomed an innocent child and committed a series of terrible offences against her.”He knew exactly what he was doing when he began talking to his victim on an internet chatroom and displayed little hesitation in meeting her to serve his own depraved sexual appetite.
“Stephens will now quite rightly serve a lengthy period of time behind bars where he will no longer be a threat to young girls.”