Isle of Wight Man Jailed For £11,000 Romance Fraud

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

Andrew Cosham, of Milne Way, Newport, appeared at Hove Crown Court on 16 February.

The court heard how Cosham met the victim on a dating site in 2019.

After initially ghosting her, he returned a year later and gradually gained her trust, staying at her home for prolonged periods and being introduced to her family.

Cosham repeatedly requested money from the victim, claiming he needed funds for personal and family reasons, council tax, and legal fines.

Using his elderly sister’s bank account, he withdrew money from the victim, promising repayment once his supposed frozen bank account was released.

Over several months, the victim provided over £11,000, but Cosham ghosted her again and never repaid the funds.

Sussex Police launched an investigation in September 2022. Cosham was arrested in November 2023, charged in September 2025, and ultimately pleaded guilty.

Alongside his two-year prison sentence, Cosham was ordered to pay a £187 surcharge and issued with a restraining order, banning him from contacting the victim or attending her address.

Detective Sergeant Rodney Davis said:

“Romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence.

"The financial loss can be serious, but the emotional impact from manipulation can be truly devastating.

"We will continue to work to bring perpetrators to justice and urge anyone affected to report it.”