A man from Crewe has been sentenced after attempting to persuade someone he believed to be a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Andrew Marsden, aged 46 and of Minshull New Road, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court and received an eight years and nine months custodial sentence, which includes an extended period of supervision of three years.
How the operation unfolded
Police say the offending began when a covert officer, deployed on 16 March 2026, posed as a 12-year-old using an online chat function linked to a games console. The officer made clear on several occasions that they were 12 and referred to being at school. Officers say Marsden turned the conversation sexual, expressed a desire to meet the child and sent explicit images of himself.
- Covert officer deployed: 16 March 2026
- Arrested: 18 March 2026
- Court: Liverpool Crown Court
- Sentence: 8 years 9 months custody; 3 years extended licence period
Charges and evidence
Marsden pleaded guilty to three offences: attempting to cause a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity; attempting to cause a girl under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity; and attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child. When arrested on 18 March 2026, officers seized devices which, police say, showed Marsden had searched online for train times to the child’s location.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Andrew Marsden, 46, Minshull New Road, Crewe |
| Offences | Attempting to cause child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; attempting to cause child under 13 to view sexual image; attempting sexual communications with a child |
| Court | Liverpool Crown Court |
| Sentence | 8 years 9 months custody; 3 years extended supervision |
Police response and community reassurance
Cheshire Constabulary described the case as one where, despite there being no actual child victim, the defendant had believed he was communicating with a vulnerable child and had taken steps to meet them. In a statement, PC Alex Barker said:
"Even though there was no victim in this case, Marsden did not know that he was in fact talking to an undercover officer and was intent on meeting with a vulnerable child, even sending her pictures of himself."
PC Barker added that Marsden denied involvement in the messages during interview and suggested someone else must have sent intimate pictures of him, a claim police say was untrue. The officer said the force was committed to protecting the public and hoped the sentence would offer reassurance to the community.
Local context and what this means for Crewe
The case underlines the use of online gaming chat functions by offenders seeking to contact children, an issue faced by towns and cities across the region. Crewe parents and carers should note that police continue to conduct proactive online operations, sometimes deploying covert officers to identify and arrest those who attempt to exploit young people.
Those with concerns about online grooming or child sexual exploitation can contact Cheshire Constabulary or use national reporting tools. Preserving online safety for children involves vigilance by carers, awareness of the platforms children use and prompt reporting of suspicious contacts.
Takeaways
- The court conviction shows active policing of online grooming in the Crewe area.
- Sentencing included a substantial custodial term and an extended supervision period.
- Parents should review privacy settings and monitor chat functions on gaming devices and apps used by children.
The sentence was imposed following Marsden’s guilty pleas at an earlier hearing. No further details about parole or additional licence conditions were provided in the police summary released after the hearing.
