Man Jailed for £11,000 Romance Fraud Scam

A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating a romance fraud scam that cost his victim more than £11,000. Andrew Cosham, of Milne Way, Isle of Wight, appeared at Hove Crown Court on 16 February where he was convicted of fraud by false representation. The court heard […]

A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating a romance fraud scam that cost his victim more than £11,000.

Andrew Cosham, of Milne Way, Isle of Wight, appeared at Hove Crown Court on 16 February where he was convicted of fraud by false representation. The court heard that the offence dated back to 2022, when the defendant met the victim through an online dating site.

The pair began communicating in 2019 and finally met in 2021, after months of online contact. Cosham stayed with the victim most weekends and gained her trust, leading her to believe they were in a committed relationship.

By late 2021, Cosham started requesting money, claiming financial needs related to personal and legal issues. Over time, he convinced the victim to hand over more than £11,000. Many of the requests were accompanied by false promises that funds would be repaid once his bank account was unfrozen.

The victim reported the matter to Sussex Police in September 2022, and officers began a detailed investigation. Cosham was arrested in November 2023, charged in September 2025 and later pleaded guilty.

At his sentencing, the judge also imposed a restraining order preventing Cosham from contacting the victim. Detective Sergeant Rodney Davis commented on the case, stating that “romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence” and encouraged victims of similar scams to come forward.

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by romance fraud, please contact police by calling 101. Support is also available from Victim Support services.