Andrew Studden

Andrew Studden, a 58-year-old man from Leeds, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and related offences. The case came to light after Studden initiated contact on Facebook Messenger with a profile posing as a 13-year-old boy named Seb, operated by members of the paedophile hunter group The Underworld Hunter Group.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Noble detailed to the court that the conversation began on 31 August 2025. Studden, already under a sexual harm prevention order for prior similar offending, was informed of the profile's supposed age but proceeded to steer the discussion towards sexual topics. He inquired about the boy's sexual experiences, asked if he had feelings for his friends, and mentioned having a hot tub under a gazebo where one could 'hang free'. Studden also asked if the boy had seen pornography and encouraged him to masturbate. The exchange lasted one week, during which Studden set his messages to disappear after 24 hours, breaching his prevention order.

On 7 September 2025, the hunter group confronted Studden at his property and alerted the police, resulting in his immediate arrest by West Yorkshire Police. Studden admitted to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. In mitigation, defence barrister Jemima Stephenson-Finn highlighted Studden's guilty plea at the first hearing and his expressed remorse, including a letter to the judge. She noted his social isolation, traumatic childhood experiences, and recent onset of such behaviour despite a clean record since 1996 for unrelated offences. Studden's health issues, including scoliosis, COPD, osteoporosis, a hernia, and borderline diabetes, were also mentioned, along with his limited interactions due to a housemate's night shifts.

His Honour Judge Phillips KC sentenced Studden to 20 months' imprisonment on Friday, 28 November 2025, acknowledging the pre-sentence report's insights into his isolation and desire for help. The case underscores the role of online vigilante groups in identifying potential child sex offenders, with West Yorkshire Police confirming the arrest and subsequent charges.