Southend paedo jailed for 27 years for child sex offences
A paedophile who bought toys for Southend children and “took them away if they refused to be abused” has been jailed for 27 years.
Prolific child rapist Andrew Cocks, 54, of Oakleigh Avenue, Southend, was found guilty of 13 child sexual offences in relation to non-recent abuse.
The victims described sustained abuse taking place from the early 2000s for more than ten years.
They came forward to report his crimes as adults but were children and teenagers when the offences took place.
He was charged with 25 counts of sexual offences against children. Out of these, 11 counts were of rape.
During an Essex Police investigation which took place in 2018 – when the offences were reported to Essex Police – Cocks proclaimed his innocence, stating that he had significant mobility issues.
At trial, evidence was produced that falsified his claims.
It was found that the “children trusted and relied on him” and would even “buy them toys and take them away if they refused his abuse”.
A jury unanimously found him guilty of 13 charges and he was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
