LONDON MAN GARY COSGROVE SENTENCED FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND TRAVEL TO CAMBODIA
A man from London, Gary Cosgrove, aged 59, has been sentenced to prison for engaging in sexual activities with a child in Cambodia.Cosgrove, of Bethnal Green, was handed a sentence of two years and five months at the Old Bailey on Friday, 29 October.
Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
On Monday, 6 September, prior to his trial, Cosgrove admitted to making indecent images of a child and inciting a child to perform a sexual act.
The Metropolitan Police’s investigation began after the National Crime Agency provided intelligence on 13 April 2018 indicating a male was abusing, grooming, and exploiting children in Cambodia.
The reports suggested the individual traveled around Sihanoukville, meeting children and subjecting them to sexual offenses.
Detectives from the Central Specialist Crime division detained Cosgrove at Heathrow Airport on Thursday, 31 May 2018, on suspicion of sexual activity with a male child under 13.
During police interviews, Cosgrove confirmed he was in Cambodia, engaging with children by giving them gifts such as food, money, clothing, and toys.
However, he denied committing any sexual offenses.
Officers seized numerous electronic items, including data storage devices, which were sent for analysis.
Further items collected from his home were also examined.
One such device contained videos and images depicting sexual communication with a child and naked children.
A specific video, approximately 50 seconds long, showed an explicit conversation where a male attempted to persuade a four-year-old girl to remove her underwear while holding paper currency.
The footage was created using an iPhone 6 Plus on 5 January 2018, and its location was identified as Cambodia, where Cosgrove was present.
On Tuesday, 26 June 2018, Cosgrove was re-interviewed but maintained that he was not involved in recording or participating in the content of the video.
Although he was bailed again, forensic analysis, including voice comparison by an expert in speech and acoustics, strongly suggested Cosgrove was the male voice in the recording, though he continued to deny all allegations.
In July 2019, Cosgrove faced charges including possession of indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and inciting a child to commit a sexual act.
Detective Constable Mike Penn from Central Specialist Crime stated, “This sentence highlights the Met’s and partner agencies’ determination to track down these offenders and tirelessly investigate offences to secure their convictions and safeguard vulnerable children no matter where they are in the world.” He urged victims or those with information to contact police at 101 or call 999 in emergencies, noting that specially trained officers are available to assist.
Peter Vernon from the National Crime Agency’s International Liaison Network commented, “Gary Cosgrove targeted vulnerable children in Cambodia, grooming and sexually abusing them by building their trust through gifts before assaulting them.
Transnational child sex offenders like Cosgrove believe they can escape justice by operating in remote locations, but this case demonstrates that borders are no barrier.
The NCA works closely with international partners to identify and prosecute British nationals who offend overseas, sharing information to ensure they face justice back home.”
