MARK COXON FROM KIDSGROVE ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE SCANDAL

In a case that has shocked the local community of Kidsgrove, Mark Coxon, a 67-year-old resident of Peckforton View, was found to possess an extensive collection of over 1,500 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. The material included some of the youngest victims, as young as three months old, and was accessed over a period of four years, beginning in 2016.

Despite the severity of the crimes, Coxon narrowly avoided imprisonment. Instead, he was sentenced to a three-year community order after pleading guilty to six counts of possessing indecent images of children. The police action against Coxon was initiated in April 2020, when authorities raided his home. During the search, they confiscated a computer tower and two USB sticks, which contained the illicit material.

Prosecutor Ben Lawrence provided details to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, explaining that Coxon’s online activity involved encrypted files and access through a browser to the dark web. This indicated a level of awareness and intent. The investigation revealed that Coxon had been viewing lawful adult pornography for approximately 15 years before transitioning to images of child sexual abuse.

During police interviews, Coxon described the children in the images as 'willing participants,' a statement that drew significant criticism from the court. Judge Sally Hancox addressed Coxon directly, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. She stated, “Over a four-year period, you were accessing material that was not only sexual in nature but showed the sex abuse of children. I note with sadness that the age range of the children is at the youngest a child who was months old.”

Judge Hancox also highlighted the disturbing fact that Coxon had already been questioned by police about the images prior to his arrest. Despite this, he maintained that he did not believe he was doing anything wrong in the privacy of his own home and claimed the images depicted willing participants. The judge clarified that such a belief was fundamentally flawed, as these images do not portray willing children.

As part of his sentence, Coxon is required to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and is subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Additionally, he must pay court costs of £380 and is prohibited from deleting his internet browsing history, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his online activity. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling online child exploitation and the importance of judicial measures to prevent further harm.