In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 49-year-old Michael Andrews was sentenced to 27 months in prison for attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl for sexual activity. Following proceedings at Swindon Crown Court, Wiltshire, the defendant pleaded guilty to four charges, including attempting to engage a child in sexual activity and attempting to encourage a child to watch a sexual act. It was reported that Andrews was caught in a proactive police sting after grooming a fictional youngster on the Kik messaging app for seven weeks.
The investigation established that Andrews used the platform to exchange explicit messages with an undercover officer from the regional organised crime unit. Wiltshire Police reported that Andrews went to extreme lengths to ensure the secrecy of the grooming, promising to provide the girl with an old Samsung Galaxy phone and a private SIM card. The prosecution reported that Andrews also purchased a blanket and took a photograph of it to send to the girl in preparation for a meeting in a wooded area.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Andrews’ actions reached a critical stage when he drove his work van to a woodland area off Sandy Lane, Chippenham, on 8 August 2019. Swindon Crown Court heard that inside the vehicle, police discovered the mobile phone, the blanket, condoms, and Haribo sweets intended for the child. The investigation established that Andrews had repeatedly urged the girl to keep their communications secret throughout the seven-week grooming period.
Judge Peter Crabtree presided over the sentencing in late 2019, noting that the defendant had encouraged the child to perform sexual acts on herself during their digital conversations. For his actions in Chippenham and the online space, Andrews was handed a 27-month custodial term. The judge noted that while Andrews was of previous good character and expressed remorse, the calculated nature of the grooming and the physical preparations for the meeting necessitated immediate imprisonment.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Michael Andrews as of March 31, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 27 months (Sentenced 2019; completed).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active until 2029 (10-year period).
- SHPO Status: 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order active until 2029.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Swindon Crown Court, following a Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) investigation.
- Criminal Record: Attempting to engage a child in sexual activity; Attempting to encourage a child to watch a sexual act.
- Origin: Chippenham area, Wiltshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Andrews is managed as a high-risk registered sex offender within the Wiltshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct, which involved the physical preparation of a vehicle with sweets and condoms to facilitate the abuse of a child, his management is a priority for the Wiltshire Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of using encrypted messaging apps to target minors requires the most intensive level of digital forensic monitoring to ensure he does not access unauthorized social media platforms.
As a registered sex offender until 2029, Andrews’ details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour demonstrated a predatory willingness to manipulate children through gifts and secret communication. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any unauthorized internet use, or any presence near schools or play areas in Chippenham or Swindon will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and the protection of the public from a confirmed groomer.
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