OLD COLWYN MAN RODNEY COSGROVE SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN NORTH WALES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Old Colwyn, Rodney Cosgrove, a 47-year-old resident of Voryn Avenue, was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of serious child sex offences. The conviction followed a trial at Caernarfon Crown Court, where the jury determined that Cosgrove had engaged in inappropriate conduct towards four young girls, all of whom were between the ages of 11 and 12.

Cosgrove had initially denied the allegations, claiming he did not sexually assault the girls. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of grooming and groping the children at his home. He was acquitted of additional charges, including a sexual assault and attempted rape, but the core charges related to his inappropriate behavior at his residence, where the girls had visited and used his computer.

The judge presiding over the case, Judge Philip Hughes, delivered the sentence at Mold Crown Court on a Monday. Along with the prison term, Cosgrove was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police indefinitely and was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to restrict his future activities. These measures are designed to monitor and prevent any further offending.

During the trial, it was revealed that Cosgrove had a collection of children’s films which he allowed the girls to watch, and he also played his guitar for them. Despite his claims of innocence, the court was convinced that Cosgrove was sexually attracted to the girls. Evidence showed that he had engaged in lengthy Facebook conversations with one of the victims over several months, with the content and frequency of these messages illustrating a pattern of grooming behavior. Judge Hughes described this as a textbook example of a middle-aged man grooming a young child for sexual purposes.

The judge emphasized that Cosgrove’s actions were manipulative, as he sought to make the girls feel comfortable and welcome in his home under the guise of being a responsible adult. The long-term impact of his actions remains uncertain, but concerns were raised about the potential damage inflicted on the victims. One girl was already receiving counseling and had engaged in self-harm, highlighting the serious emotional toll of the abuse. While the court acknowledged that Cosgrove could not be solely blamed for her initial vulnerability, it was clear that his conduct had worsened her condition.

Prosecutor Elen Owen pointed out that Cosgrove’s behavior suggested he would have continued his offending if not for intervention, as he appeared to be testing his luck until someone alerted her mother. Defense lawyer Simon Mintz argued that Cosgrove’s Facebook messages were childish and harmless, describing them as silly talk. However, the judge rejected this characterization, stating that the messages demonstrated a calculated effort to build trust with the young girl, which could then be exploited for sexual purposes.

Mr. Mintz acknowledged that the conduct was inappropriate and that the touching was over clothing, but he emphasized that the overall picture was disturbing. The court took into account Cosgrove’s lack of prior convictions and his otherwise good work record when determining the sentence. Nonetheless, the seriousness of the offences warranted a significant custodial term, and the court’s decision reflected the need to protect vulnerable children from predators like Cosgrove in the future.