Andrew Cuckston

Andrew Cuckston, a 59-year-old resident of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 11 years and six months in prison following his conviction on several counts of sexual abuse against a vulnerable young girl. The offences, which took place over a four-month period in 2018, involved a girl under the age of 13 and were described in court as demonstrating Cuckston's grave danger to children.

The trial occurred at St Albans Crown Court, where Cuckston was found guilty on Friday, 3 September 2021, after a jury heard evidence of the assaults that happened at an address in Stevenage between September and December 2018. The charges included assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, attempting to assault a girl under 13 by penetration, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. Cuckston was arrested in January 2019 after the victim disclosed the abuse to her family. During police interviews, he denied the allegations but was subsequently charged and stood trial.

Sentencing took place on Wednesday, 24 November 2021, where the judge imposed the custodial term alongside additional measures to protect the public. Cuckston was made subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting him from being alone with any child under 16, engaging in activities that would bring him into contact with children under 16, or staying overnight at an address with such children. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and received a restraining order barring contact with the victim or her family.

Assistant Investigator Anne Bradbury from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Joint Child Protection Investigation Team commended the victim's bravery, stating: “I want to publicly commend the victim in this case for her bravery throughout this investigation. Understandably, it has been hugely traumatic for her and I know she has struggled to come to terms with what happened.” Bradbury further emphasised the force's commitment to protecting children, noting: “Cuckston clearly poses a grave danger to children and the terms of the order granted by the judge ensures his activity will be very closely monitored, both while he is serving his sentence and long afterwards.” The case was reported by The Comet, highlighting the ongoing efforts of Hertfordshire Constabulary to investigate reports of child sexual abuse, regardless of when they occurred.