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Catholic priest who tried to meet and sexually abuse 2-year-old boy busted in undercover operation, jailed for 40 months

The court was told how 32-year-old Father Matthew Jolley had become a person of interest when he had engaged in many disgusting chats on several online forums including Grindr. All his chats were centered around having sex with a 2-year-old boy

A Catholic priest who tried to arrange for a two-year-old child to be abused by him was busted during an undercover police operation. 

Father Matthew Jolley pleaded guilty to one offense of arranging the commission of a child sex offense. According to a report by the Liverpool Echo, 32-year-old Jolley appeared on a video link from HMP Altcourse to be sentenced.

The sickening offense had occurred last month when Jolley had returned from Belgium to the UK. He was all set to be traveling to Rome for a two-year period of study.

The court was told how Jolley had become a person of interest when he had engaged in many disgusting chats on several online forums including Grindr. All his chats were centered around having sex with a two-year-old boy. 

Jolley was under the impression that he was talking to the child's father but it was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.

Prosecutor Alaric Walmsley shared that Jolley had "created a profile as a 13-year-old bisexual male on Grindr, using the name Breed Me".

Over several messages with the officer, Jolley got candid about his sexual interest and fascination in young children — both male and female. He added that there was no age limit "so long as they're cute".

The undercover cop spoke about a two-year-old son and Jolley responded to the made-up child by asking "whether I could share him". The conversation then shifted onto Kik and then onto Wickr, an encrypted platform, where Jolley requested indecent pictures and videos. 

Walmsley also shared that Jolley had arranged to go to the undercover cop's house in Hale Village in order to sexually abuse the child.

During their meeting, Jolley again explained how he planned to abuse the child. When the undercover cop revealed his identity, Jolley attempted to run but was restrained.

Jolley was sentenced to 40 months in prison and recorder Jeremy Lasker shared, "Your words and actions and intentions seem to be wholly inconsistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church."

"You have done nothing but a great disservice to the Church," Lasker added. Jolley was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.