JOHN COX FROM ELDEME SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 13-YEAR-OLD BABYSITTER IN SWINDON

In August 2007, a man named John Cox, residing on Gipsy Lane in Eldene, was sentenced to nine months in prison after being convicted of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl who was babysitting for his children. The incident took place during a night between autumn 1999 and late 2000, when Cox, then 60 years old, entered the girl’s bedroom while she was lying in bed, in the same room as the younger children she was caring for.

According to court records, Cox placed his hand under the girl’s pyjamas and touched her inappropriately. Although she initially disclosed the abuse to others at the time, the matter was not reported to law enforcement authorities until she had reached the age of 18. The delay in reporting was a point of discussion during the trial, which took place at Swindon Crown Court.

John Cox denied the charge of indecent assault, but a jury found him guilty after a trial. His defense lawyer, Noel Sweeney, argued that Cox maintained his innocence regarding the incident from nearly eight years prior. Sweeney also emphasized that the conviction involved conduct at the lower end of the spectrum for indecent assaults, stating, “Unlike some of these incidents, there was nothing in the way of threats, nothing in the way of violence, nothing in the way of bribery, nothing in the way of secrets.”

Sweeney further pointed out that in the years following the alleged assault, the girl—whose identity remains protected for legal reasons—continued to have contact with Cox. He highlighted that probation officers had assessed Cox as being a low risk of re-offending. Additionally, the defense presented testimony from another young woman who used to babysit for Cox, describing how he had given her lifts home and behaved appropriately.

Throughout his adult life, Cox had been employed steadily and had raised his son as a single parent at one point. His lawyer urged the court to consider a non-custodial sentence, arguing that Cox’s status as a sex offender would likely result in him being segregated from other prisoners, which could potentially worsen his situation.

However, Judge Douglas Field sentenced Cox to nine months in prison. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the breach of trust involved, stating, “The complainant in this case was 13 years old at the time. She was entitled to put her trust in you and you breached that trust on the night in question.”

The judge detailed the nature of the assault, describing how Cox entered the girl’s room while she was babysitting, ran his hand over her body beneath her pyjamas, including her pubic area. He acknowledged the profound and lasting impact this incident had on the victim, noting that it had caused significant adverse effects on her well-being.

In addition to the custodial sentence, Judge Field ordered Cox to register as a sex offender for ten years and prohibited him from working with children in the future, reflecting the seriousness of his misconduct and the need to protect vulnerable minors from potential harm.