Andrew Cobb

Andrew Cobb, a 54-year-old man from Monmouth Street in Bridgwater, Somerset, was sentenced on Friday, 14 November 2025, at Taunton Crown Court, sitting at North Somerset Courthouse, to six years and seven months in prison following his guilty plea to 15 serious sexual offences against children.

The case came to light in April 2023 when Cobb began messaging an individual online whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, engaging in sexual communications and attempting to incite her to participate in sexual activity. Avon and Somerset Police arrested Cobb in June 2023 and seized several of his electronic devices. Forensic examination of these devices revealed the full extent of his criminal behaviour, uncovering persistent and manipulative conversations with at least nine children. In these interactions, Cobb initiated contact, built trust, requested images, and discussed sexual topics, often framing the exchanges as private relationships or mentorships while insisting on secrecy.

The court heard that Cobb had a prior conviction for similar offences in 2011, for which he was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years, a period that ended in 2021 shortly before his recent offending commenced. In addition to the custodial sentence, Cobb was made subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to protect the public from further harm.

Detective Constable Benn Murphy, the officer in the case from Avon and Somerset Police, commented on the sentencing: 'This case exposes the calculated and relentless nature of Cobb’s online child exploitation. He deliberately targeted vulnerable children, manipulated them for his own gratification, and showed utter disregard for the harm he caused. His guilty plea reflects the overwhelming evidence built against him. We will not hesitate to pursue offenders like Cobb and bring them to justice. Protecting children is one of our absolute priorities, and we will do everything in our power to ensure those who prey on them are identified, stopped and prosecuted.' The investigation and prosecution were led by Avon and Somerset Police, highlighting their commitment to tackling online child sexual exploitation.