ANDREW CLOUGH CAUGHT IN CHEADLE ONLINE GROOMING SCANDAL

In September 2022, a disturbing case of online grooming was brought to light involving Andrew Clough, a resident of Cheadle. The incident unfolded when paedophile hunters successfully conducted a sting operation at his address on October 24 of the previous year, leading to his immediate arrest by local police authorities. Clough, aged 45 and residing on Carlos Close in Cheadle, now faces a significant prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious charges related to his predatory behavior.

The prosecution, led by Mark Brookes, detailed the extent of Clough’s malicious actions during his appearance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. It was revealed that Clough engaged in conversations with decoys posing as underage girls—one claiming to be 14 years old and two others claiming to be 12. During these exchanges, Clough sent explicit messages, revealing his disturbing interest in sexual activities involving minors.

According to the prosecutor, Clough expressed a desire for 'sex talk' and provided guidance on how to perform sexual acts to the decoys. He also asked for explicit images, including a request for a photo of a girl’s breasts. The decoys, acting under the guise of underage girls, reported that Clough repeatedly asked about their clothing, their experiences with kissing or more intimate acts, and even inquired about their masturbation habits. These conversations took place over platforms like WhatsApp, where Clough continued to push for sexual content and explicit discussions.

One of the decoys, claiming to be 12 years old, mentioned school, prompting Clough to comment on her appearance in a school uniform. He exchanged phone numbers with her and continued to pursue sexual conversations, asking her to send non-sexual photos and later requesting more explicit images. On another occasion, he engaged with a girl claiming to be 14, asking about her room, her clothing, and whether she had kissed a boy or engaged in sexual activity. Clough’s persistent probing included asking if she had played with her own breasts and requesting her to show her attire through selfies.

Throughout these interactions, Clough’s behavior was characterized by a pattern of grooming, with him asking about her clothing, her activities in bed, and whether she had ever been in a bikini. He also inquired about her personal grooming and masturbation habits, offering instructions and expressing his own sexual interest. The conversations were deliberately designed to exploit and manipulate the minors, with Clough making explicit requests for sexual images and discussing sexual activities, thereby prolonging the grooming process.

Clough pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual communication with a child. His guilty plea underscores the severity of his actions and the clear evidence of his intent to exploit underage girls for sexual gratification.

Judge Sally Hancox, presiding over the case, sentenced Clough to 36 months in prison. In her remarks, she emphasized the gravity of his misconduct, stating, “It’s clear you believed you were talking to a 12-year-old girl. There’s no doubt you were seeking sexual conversation and activity. There was nothing to suggest you were not talking to children. You know what you’ve done is wrong.” The judge also acknowledged Clough’s character, describing him as a hardworking and kind individual whose life has been completely disrupted by these actions. As part of the court’s measures to prevent future offenses, Clough was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), aimed at restricting his access to minors and preventing further harm.