Paul Cox sentenced to five years and three months for child sexual offences

Paul Cox, 71 of Bancroft, Tamworth (formerly of Selby Way, Nuneaton) plead guilty to attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child, facilitating the sexual assault of a child, and seven charges of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13.

Cox believed that he had been talking to a 12-year-old girl on an online chat room service and another online messaging service, using the usernames “Loving Gramps” and “cotchus”.

On 18 July 2022, Cox sent a message saying “any interest in older chat to Warwickshire guy” to the profile described as a 12-year-old girl. After being told the age given on the profile, Cox said “Cool I am 64”.

Cox went on to say “have u had any naughty uncles as u grew up” and “Has anyone tried to touch u.”

Three days later, Cox made attempts to encourage a meet-up, asking what she would wear if they were to meet in person.

Conversations continued online, and on 22 August Cox sent multiple explicit messages to the profile and tried to encourage her to send him nude pictures.

The next day, after he did not receive pictures, Cox attempted to make the profile owner feel guilty for not replying, asking how she was going to make it up to him, and again making attempts to arrange a meeting in person.

At 10:30am on 20 September, Cox was arrested at his house.

While he was in custody, at least seven additional offences involving Cox touching a young girl in a sexual way between October 2019 and September 2022 were reported. 

Some of these offences took place in the changing rooms of leisure centres, and others while driving.

On 26 March, Paul Cox was sentenced to 63 months in prison at Warwick Crown Court.

He will be required to register with the police as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and has been given a sexual harm prevention order which stipulates that he:

• Cannot engage or seek to engage in contact or communication with anyone under the age of 18,
• Cannot refuse a police officer access to any device he owns with access to the internet,
• Cannot own any device capable of accessing the internet other than in public libraries or under the supervision of agencies, and
• Cannot use any home broadband router unless he notifies an officer within three days of doing so.

In addition, Cox is required to pay a victim’s surcharge of £181.

Investigating officer DC Scott from the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team said “Over the course of four years and for the purpose of his own gratification, Paul Cox sexually abused one child and attempted to encourage others to meet him to be abused. 

“His activities were predatory, attempting to use guilt as a means for coercion and control.

“For just over five years he’ll be removed from society, and for the rest of his life, he will be prevented from interacting with any child or with anyone on the internet unsupervised. We will be watching him extremely closely.

“The healing process for the victim and her family has begun, and our thoughts are with them.”