MALDWYN COX SENTENCED IN CHADDESDEN FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL

In a case that has deeply affected the local community of Chaddesden, Maldwyn Cox, aged 37, was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to multiple charges of sexual misconduct involving a young girl. The victim, now 25, recounted her traumatic experience, revealing how the abuse, which occurred when she was only 11 years old, has had a lasting and devastating impact on her life.

According to court records, Cox, a resident of Worcester Crescent in Chaddesden, engaged in unlawful sexual activities with the girl between 1997 and 1998. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of indecent assault. The victim, who reported the abuse last year, described her feelings of violation and shame, stating, “I feel like I have been robbed. It’s messed up my whole life. I’m having to go to counselling.” She expressed her disappointment at the length of Cox’s sentence, remarking, “I’m devastated at the length of the sentence. Burglars get locked up for longer.”

During the court hearing at Derby Crown Court, it was revealed that Cox was in his early twenties at the time of the abuse. The court heard that the victim felt confused and vulnerable, as Cox had been someone who showed her attention during a period when she felt emotionally neglected. She told police that she felt “disgusting and dirty” after the incident, feelings that persist to this day.

Recorder Christopher Donnellan, QC, addressed Cox directly, emphasizing the lasting emotional consequences of his actions: “That’s the consequence of what you were doing – that many years later, the feelings and disgust are just as alive as when it happened.”

Prosecutor Avik Mukherjee highlighted the broader implications of Cox’s behavior, noting that the victim’s life has been significantly affected. She reported that the abuse has impacted her ability to form healthy relationships and has caused her to view men negatively. Mukherjee also disclosed that Cox had previously been questioned by police in the early 1990s regarding allegations of sexual assault against two girls under the age of 10. Although these allegations did not lead to court proceedings, Cox admitted to assaulting both girls when he was 16 years old.

Psychiatrists who assessed Cox described him as a man of “dull intelligence,” but clarified that he did not suffer from any mental disorder. They also concluded that he was unlikely to pose a predatory threat in the future. Cox’s legal representatives, including Sarah Munro, argued that there were no threats, coercion, or substance abuse involved in the case, and noted that although Cox has struggled with relationships since, he has not continued to involve himself with young girls.

As part of his sentence, Cox is required to register as a sex offender and is disqualified from working with children for life. Upon release, he will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from being alone with anyone under the age of 16. The court’s decision underscores the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing restrictions imposed to protect the community of Chaddesden from further harm.