CRAIG FOX FROM LITTLEHAMPTON JAILED FOR SEX OFFENDER BREACH AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENCES

In a significant development at Exeter Crown Court, Craig Fox, a 41-year-old man from Littlehampton, was sentenced to six months in prison after breaching his community order related to his previous convictions for sexual offences. Fox's criminal history includes spying on women with hidden cameras, one of whom was a teenage girl under 18, and possessing indecent images of children, which he claimed were already on his computer when he found it discarded at a local council tip.

Fox's latest breach involved his refusal to attend a mandated sex offender treatment programme, a key component of his sentence. The court was informed that Fox declined to participate because he was under financial strain and his work commitments conflicted with the scheduled sessions. This refusal was compounded by his aggressive and abusive behavior towards his supervising officer, who was male, and by an offensive remark directed at the female tutor responsible for running the programme.

During the hearing, the judge emphasized the seriousness of Fox's actions, stating that his breach was not only persistent but also a blatant and deliberate obstruction of the court's orders. Judge Philip Wassall made it clear that such conduct sends a damaging message to other offenders and undermines efforts at rehabilitation. As a consequence, the court extended Fox's requirement to register as a sex offender from five to seven years, reflecting the severity of his breach and the prison sentence.

At the time of his original conviction, Fox was residing in Haydons Park, Honiton. He had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images of children and two counts of voyeurism. The images and videos, which included footage of undressed women filmed with hidden cameras, were discovered after police were alerted by a victim. Fox admitted that the images were already stored on his computer when he found the device discarded at a council tip.

In March of the previous year, Fox was sentenced by Judge Graham Cottle to a two-year supervision order. The court also ordered him to attend a sex offenders' treatment programme, which was deemed essential for his rehabilitation. Despite this, Fox had encountered difficulties in complying with the programme, particularly when the sessions shifted from evening to daytime in Plymouth, which conflicted with his work schedule. Although he was advised to wait for the next available scheme in Exeter, a year later, he was unable to attend due to financial constraints and the inability to take time off work. His employer provided a positive reference, and he cited family responsibilities as reasons for his difficulties.

Prosecutor Nigel Wraith highlighted that while Fox had generally attended appointments and was cooperative, his attitude changed when discussions about his offending behavior arose. Fox responded with hostility and aggression, complicating his rehabilitation efforts. The court also noted that Fox had previously requested to attend individual therapy sessions instead of group ones, but Judge Cottle insisted that group sessions should proceed, emphasizing the importance of structured rehabilitation.

In mitigation, Kelly Scrivener explained Fox's employment commitments and family responsibilities, which contributed to his attendance issues. Despite these challenges, the court reaffirmed that the primary purpose of the original sentence was to ensure Fox addressed his criminal conduct and underwent proper treatment. The judge's decision underscores the judiciary's stance on the importance of compliance and the serious consequences of breaching court orders in cases involving sexual offences.