ANDREW WATT FROM HAVANT CONVICTED PERVERT AND GROOMER TARGETING CHILDREN

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Havant community, Andrew Watt, a man with a troubling past, was found to have engaged in a calculated and prolonged effort to groom young children, including a single mother and her son. Watt, who previously used the name Andrew Watt before changing it to evade detection, was convicted of serious offenses related to indecency and child abduction, revealing a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years.

It all came to light after Watt, aged 46 and residing on Laburnum Road in Waterlooville, had established a seemingly innocent relationship with a single mother in Havant. The woman, who initially believed Watt to be a trustworthy individual, recounted her shock and horror upon discovering his true identity and criminal history. Watt had spent a year building a friendship with her after they connected through Facebook, where she was selling items. Unbeknownst to her, Watt had a dark past involving convictions for indecency with a minor and the abduction of a 15-year-old girl in 2004.

The mother revealed that Watt had babysat her child approximately 30 times, during which she had no suspicion of any inappropriate behavior. However, her suspicions were raised when she decided to look up Watt’s real name online and uncovered his criminal record. This revelation prompted her to report him to authorities, leading to his arrest. Watt later admitted to breaching the notification requirements that are imposed on convicted sex offenders, which require him to register his whereabouts and activities.

During an interview with The News, the mother expressed her distress, stating, “It’s sickening to think he would do so much, for so long – nearly a year – to get to a child. That’s some kind of obsession, it’s really scary.” She also shared her feelings of betrayal, emphasizing that she had trusted Watt implicitly and had no idea of his true intentions. Her experience has left her feeling deeply changed, and she admitted that her trust in others has been severely affected. “It’s changed me, and not all of it’s for the better. I’m young now and I’ve had to learn a hard lesson,” she said.

Further investigations revealed that Watt had also established a second relationship with another family after being recommended as a babysitter by the first woman. This pattern of grooming and manipulation demonstrated a calculated effort to exploit his position of trust for sexual purposes. The court heard that Watt’s actions were devious and manipulative, with Judge Ian Pearson describing him as a significant risk to children. Watt was sentenced to 33 months in prison and was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having contact with children, living in a household with children, or using the internet without restrictions. He is also required to comply with lifelong notification obligations.

In addition to his criminal behavior involving children, Watt, who previously served as the treasurer at Queen Alexandra Hospital Radio in Cosham, admitted to stealing over £3,000 from the station through 19 separate transactions. His defense attorney, Simon Moger, stated that Watt had converted to Catholicism while in prison and that his father had repaid some of the stolen money.

Watt’s criminal history also includes a previous conviction from March 2004, when he was jailed for five-and-a-half years for seducing a girl through an internet chatroom, downloading child pornography, and engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl he met online. The girl, who was a virgin, had secretly left her home in Hedge End to meet Watt, who resided on Forestside Avenue in West Leigh, Havant. Over several weeks, Watt and the girl met on multiple occasions, with the girl willingly participating in the relationship. Watt’s relationship with her was finally exposed after a secret meeting in a Bedhampton car park, where the girl suffered a fit. Watt called an ambulance, but paramedics became concerned that Watt had abducted her, especially since she was found in her pyjamas.

Police later discovered hundreds of indecent images of children on Watt’s computer equipment during a search of his home. Watt pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of abduction, unlawful sexual intercourse, gross indecency with a child, indecent assault, and making indecent images of children. His criminal actions have left a lasting scar on the victims and the community, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses against minors.