A PAEDOPHILE who bought toys for Southend children and "took them away if they refused abuse" has been jailed for 27 years. 

Andrew Cocks, 54, of Oakleigh Avenue, Southend, has been 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.

Det Sgt Pitchford, part of the Child Abuse Investigation Teams, has been leading the investigation.

The team specialise in investigating reports of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse of children.

Det Sgt Pitchford said: “Abuse of any kind should never happen but when it does, we’re here to make sure that the perpetrator answers for his crimes.

“Cocks knew that the children trusted and relied on him, and he made them believe it was a choice.

“He would even buy them toys and take them away if they refused his abuse.

“Grooming and abuse is categorically never a choice by a victim. If you’ve been made to feel that way, please contact us or reach out to someone for support.

“You will be taken seriously, and you will be believed.”

Specialist teams dedicated to tackling serious sexual offending across Essex have seen the force ranked the best in the country at bringing predators to justice.

Essex Police is ranked 1st out of 43 forces across the UK for its sexual offences conviction rate, spanning the 12 months until May 2023.