A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for a romance fraud in which he defrauded his partner of £11,000.
Andrew Cosham, 57, of Milne Way, Isle of Wight, appeared at Hove Crown Court on Monday, where a restraining order was also imposed, preventing him from contacting his victim directly or indirectly.
Police said Cosham manipulated his partner over a relationship lasting nearly three years. He falsely promised marriage and a joint home purchase once his bank account containing £3 million was “unfrozen” after a divorce appeal. The couple even viewed multiple properties, and the victim paid for a survey on one house. Cosham repeatedly claimed there were issues with the properties, insisting they needed to keep searching.
Cosham also lied about needing money to repay council tax, pay debts to a storage company and phone provider, and to assist his ill sister. Police said he used his sister’s bank account to withdraw funds given by the victim, who was unaware of the scheme.
The victim provided over £11,000 under the promise of repayment, which Cosham never fulfilled. He ghosted her, and the victim reported the fraud to police in September 2022. Cosham was arrested in November 2023, charged on September 29, 2025, and pleaded guilty the following month at Worthing Magistrates’ Court.
Detective Sergeant Rodney Davis emphasized the emotional and financial toll of romance fraud, noting, “Romance fraud is never the victim’s fault.”
