ANDREW COBB FROM CREWE AND WINNINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CHESTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Crewe and Winnington, Andrew Cobb has been sentenced to a total of seven years in prison after admitting to a series of serious crimes involving the grooming and exploitation of young girls over the internet.

Andrew Cobb, aged 34 and residing on Rochester Crescent in Crewe, appeared before Chester Crown Court to face multiple charges related to his predatory behavior. The court was told that Cobb had engaged in grooming activities online, targeting vulnerable minors, and had committed various sexual offences. Judge Elgan Edwards did not hold back in condemning Cobb, describing him as a ‘pervert who preys on innocent children’ during the sentencing.

He faced a total of ten charges, which included two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one of causing a child under the age of 13 to participate in sexual acts, and another of inciting a child under 13 to do the same. Additionally, Cobb was charged with engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, four counts of making indecent images of children, and possession of such images. It was revealed that Cobb had a prior conviction in 2006 for similar offenses, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior.

The crimes for which Cobb was convicted date back to 2009, involving two victims aged 12 and 14. The police investigation was initiated after a concerned mother reported suspicious online activity involving her daughter in 2009, which led to a lengthy and detailed investigation.

Prosecutor Jackie Lamb provided details of the case, explaining that the first victim, a 14-year-old girl, had initially communicated with Cobb via MSN Messenger. Although Cobb was a stranger to her, she added him as a friend, and their conversations quickly turned inappropriate. The girl told her mother about the messages, and her mother intervened, warning Cobb to leave her daughter alone. Despite this, Cobb continued to contact her, making inappropriate comments and asking to see explicit photos of her in underwear and naked.

The second victim was a 12-year-old girl from Sunderland. Cobb engaged her in conversations about her relationship status and personal details, including questions about her bra size. He incited her to engage in sexual activity and even asked her to watch him on webcam, further demonstrating his predatory intent.

During the police investigation, authorities seized Cobb’s computers and mobile phone. Forensic analysis uncovered a number of indecent images of children, four of which were confirmed to be explicit. The evidence was damning and played a significant role in the court’s decision.

Defending Cobb, lawyer Kay Driver acknowledged his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, emphasizing that Cobb has shown remorse and that his offending indicates a lack of empathy for his victims. She argued that Cobb’s difficulties in understanding the impact of his actions should be considered as mitigating factors.

Judge Edwards sentenced Cobb to seven years in prison, with four years to be served behind bars and the remaining three on license. The judge expressed serious concerns about Cobb’s dangerousness and the risk he poses to the public, especially young girls. He warned Cobb that if he committed similar offenses again, he would face a much longer incarceration.

Furthermore, Cobb is now prohibited from working with children and will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

In a separate but related case from 2006, Cobb, then living in Winnington, was convicted of grooming a teenage girl from Winsford over the internet before sexually assaulting her. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison, ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, and banned from working with children for life. This earlier conviction underscores a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior involving minors.

At that time, Cobb had met his victim in an online chat room, and after exchanging messages, they arranged to meet outside a local supermarket. Cobb then drove her to his home, where he kissed her and touched her inappropriately. The victim confided in her mother, leading to Cobb’s arrest. Police found hundreds of indecent images and stories involving child abuse on his computer. Cobb claimed he believed the girl was 16 and denied intentionally downloading images of children.

Detective Constable Simon Newell emphasized the dangers of the internet, urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities closely. He highlighted the importance of awareness and vigilance in protecting minors from online predators like Cobb, whose actions have caused significant harm and distress to his victims and their families.