ANDREW BAILEY FROM BURSLEDON SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SOUTHAMPTON

In October 2014, a man from Bursledon named Andrew Bailey was sentenced to nearly ten years in prison after being found guilty of manipulating a vulnerable 14-year-old girl into engaging in sexual activities with him. The case was heard at Southampton Crown Court, where disturbing details of the relationship emerged.

Bailey, aged 27 at the time, exploited the trust of the young girl by claiming he was a reliable confidant and could offer her advice, especially as she confided in him about her troubled relationship. Despite her age, Bailey and the girl developed a sexual relationship that was both frequent and intimate. The court heard that they had regular sexual encounters after meeting in Eastleigh, with their first sexual act taking place on the Eastleigh golf course.

It was revealed that Bailey was aware of her age but continued their relationship without taking any precautions, which compounded the severity of his misconduct. The girl’s mother grew increasingly suspicious of her daughter’s behavior, noticing her becoming more secretive and devious in her attempts to hide her interactions with Bailey. Acting on advice, she contacted the police, leading to Bailey’s arrest. During the police interview, Bailey refused to answer questions about their relationship and was subsequently bailed under strict conditions not to contact the girl or any other girl under 16.

However, Bailey blatantly disregarded the bail conditions. The court was told that he repeatedly contacted the girl through messages and made efforts to meet her in places not covered by security cameras, ensuring their meetings remained hidden from surveillance. Evidence showed that Bailey bombarded her with hundreds of messages daily, and the pair deliberately sought out secluded locations to avoid detection.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb highlighted that their relationship progressed rapidly, with discussions about living together, marriage, and having children. The relationship ended abruptly when the girl saw Bailey with another 14-year-old girl, which caused her to collapse and require medical assistance. The police became involved once again, and Bailey’s actions were scrutinized.

Gabb pointed out that Bailey was manipulative, taking advantage of her infatuation and controlling her, while doing everything possible to avoid detection. The girl, in an impact statement, expressed her realization of being used and betrayed. She acknowledged that Bailey had exploited her vulnerability, manipulated her from the start, and taken her away from her family and friends.

Bailey, who had previous convictions for sex offenses, pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a girl to engage in sexual activity. The court sentenced him to 56 months in prison, with an additional five years on extended license. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which restricted his internet access and prohibited him from seeing the victim or being alone with any girl under 16. Both the order and the registration were set to run indefinitely.

In mitigation, Bailey’s lawyer, Keely Harvey, noted that his guilty plea spared the girl the trauma of giving evidence in court. The judge emphasized the danger Bailey posed, especially given his history, and described him as a high risk to young girls, particularly those between 14 and 16. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of his actions and the need to protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.