ANDREW ROGERS FROM SOUTH CROYDON JAILED FOR SEXUAL COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOLGIRL NEAR LIVERPOOL

In October 2019, a man named Andrew Rogers, residing in South Croydon, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court for engaging in inappropriate and sexual communications with a minor. Rogers, aged 55, who works shifts at Gatwick Airport, appeared before the court to face charges related to his interactions with a schoolgirl who was only 10 years old at the time of their initial meeting.

According to court proceedings, Rogers had only met the girl once, but that encounter left a lasting impression. It was revealed that just before her 15th birthday, Rogers began to send her increasingly explicit messages via Facebook from his home in Liverpool. These messages contained sexual content and explicit requests, which raised serious concerns among authorities and her family.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rogers detailed that Rogers, who is not related to the girl, would promise her money or an iPhone in exchange for explicit photographs. He would ask her to demonstrate her desire by sending him pictures of herself. In one particularly disturbing exchange, Rogers referred to himself as a “dirty old man” and called the girl a “dirty schoolgirl.” He also inquired about her personal life, asking if she was sleeping with boys, whether she fancied him, and if she had seen a penis before.

The court heard that Rogers repeatedly urged the girl to send him photos to show how much she loved and missed him. The messages grew increasingly alarming and inappropriate over time. When the girl’s mother discovered the messages, she promptly reported the matter to the police. Rogers initially denied the allegations but later changed his plea to guilty as his trial was about to commence.

The impact on the girl and her family was profound. In her impact statement, her mother described how Rogers’ behavior had a “devastating effect” on their lives. The teenager, now 17, had begun self-harming and had threatened to take her own life. Her mother expressed her concern that instead of enjoying her youth, her daughter was suffering from depression and anger.

Judge Denis Watson, QC, addressed the court, emphasizing the severity of Rogers’ actions. He stated, “The communications via Facebook messaging had an increasingly sexual theme to them. You made repeated requests for photos. Although she sent them, you weren’t satisfied with those and kept demanding others. I have absolutely no doubt you wanted a sexual pose. These were linked to offers by you of providing her with money, a phone, or both. Parts of this came close to grooming.”

Throughout the proceedings, Rogers appeared subdued, hanging his head most of the time. He was ultimately sentenced to 23 weeks in prison. Additionally, he was issued with a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years, reflecting the seriousness of his misconduct and the need for ongoing monitoring and protection of potential victims.