ANDREW WINFIELD'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN PLYMOUTH AND TAUNTON REVEALED
In a disturbing case that has shocked the local communities of Plymouth and Taunton, Andrew Winfield, a 52-year-old man from Plymouth, has been sentenced to a total of eight years in prison following a series of heinous offenses involving online predatory behavior and attempted sexual encounters.Winfield’s criminal activities came to light after he was lured into a trap set by vigilant paedophile hunters in Taunton.
The incident unfolded when Winfield arranged to meet what he believed was a 13-year-old girl named Lily at a bandstand near a Morrisons supermarket.
Unbeknownst to him, the girl was part of a vigilante group monitoring his actions.
The group had been tracking Winfield’s online conversations, which included explicit messages and photographs of himself, sent to the fictitious girls named Lily and Sophia, aged 13 and 14 respectively.
On November 25 of the previous year, Winfield traveled to the designated meeting spot, only to be confronted by the group.
The court heard that prior to this, between November 13 and November 15, Winfield had been engaging in conversations with the girls, encouraging them to touch themselves and imagining it was him.
These exchanges were conducted via his mobile phone, which he used to communicate with the minors, further demonstrating his predatory intent.
Judge David Ticehurst, presiding over the case, sentenced Winfield to eight years in prison—comprising six years of custody with an additional two-year extended license.
During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged Winfield’s remorse, noting that he had written a letter expressing “total disgust” with himself.
Winfield also cited suffering from anxiety and depression, which the judge remarked appeared to be self-pity rather than genuine remorse.
The judge emphasized that Winfield’s actions were part of a pattern of sexual offending spanning over a decade, and he expressed concern about the significant risk Winfield posed to young children.
Prosecutor Rachel Drake outlined the case, revealing that Winfield had a history of sexual offenses, including a four-year sentence in 2008 for attempted rape.
She also pointed out that Winfield had breached a sexual harm prevention order in 2013, which added to the aggravating factors in his current case.
The court was informed that Winfield’s addiction to sex lines and dating sites further fueled his predatory behavior.
Defense attorney Patrick Mason described Winfield’s background, stating that he had led a relatively quiet life growing up in Oxfordshire and Plymouth until his conviction in 2008.
Mason highlighted Winfield’s current mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression, which had led him to self-harm while in prison.
The attorney also mentioned that Winfield’s estranged relationship with his mother, who suffers from dementia, was contributing to his mental health issues.
Winfield pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of meeting or communicating with a girl under 16, attempting to cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
He is now subject to a new sexual harm prevention order that bans him from using his mobile phones for any sexual purposes.
Earlier in December 2017, Winfield was caught in a sting operation in Taunton, where he believed he was grooming a 14-year-old girl for sexual activity.
Instead, he was met by law enforcement officers who presented evidence of his intentions.
It was also revealed that Winfield had previous convictions, including a 2008 conviction for the attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl, whom he assaulted and threatened to kill.
He served seven years in prison for that offense.
The case has once again brought to light the dangers posed by individuals like Winfield, and the bravery of the vigilante groups and law enforcement agencies involved in bringing him to justice is widely recognized.
