MICHAEL SMITH-COX FROM COX AND IRTHLINGBOROUGH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN NEWLYN

In a chilling case that has shocked the local communities of Cox, Irthlingborough, and Newlyn, Michael Smith-Cox, aged 65, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal sexual abuse of two young children. The crimes, which spanned over a decade, involved a disturbing pattern of violence and exploitation that left indelible scars on the victims.

Smith-Cox, who was residing in Lucas Close, Irthlingborough during the time of the abuse in the mid-1990s, was convicted by a jury at Northampton Crown Court in July. The court heard that he subjected the children to a series of horrific acts, including forcing them to perform sexual acts on each other and making them available to others involved in a paedophile ring. The severity of his crimes was underscored by the judge, Charles Wide, QC, who described the damage inflicted as 'incalculable.'

Despite the conviction, Smith-Cox continues to deny any wrongdoing. His defense argued that he maintains his innocence and is not a sex offender, requesting the court to consider his age and health issues, notably osteoporosis, which had previously led to his early release from prison after a similar conviction in 2000. However, the court was unpersuaded, and Smith-Cox was handed a life sentence, with a minimum term of 14 years before parole eligibility.

His former wife, Susan Smith-Cox, aged 36 at the time of sentencing, was also found guilty of four child protection offences during a two-week trial. She was sentenced to five years in prison. The judge described her actions as involving repeated and persistent sexual abuse of children as young as four and five years old. He emphasized the gravity of her involvement, noting that she made the children available for abuse by others and forced them to perform acts on each other for her gratification.

Kenneth Mortimer, aged 68 and residing on Guillemot Lane, Wellingborough, was convicted of two indecent assaults against a young boy. He received a four-year prison sentence. The judge highlighted that Mortimer's crimes were serious, involving two separate indecent assaults, and he was held responsible for causing significant harm.

The court also heard that the victims' identities are protected due to the sensitive nature of the case. The abuse included not only sexual violence but also cruelty, with one of the assaults involving a handgun, which the judge described as 'the most serious one could possibly imagine.'

Robert Anthony, representing Michael Smith-Cox, stated that his client maintained his innocence despite the jury's verdict and his previous convictions. He appealed for mercy, citing Smith-Cox's age and health issues.

Det Con Andy Stephenson of Northamptonshire Police expressed satisfaction with the sentences, emphasizing the importance of holding offenders accountable and providing some measure of justice for the victims. He hoped that these convictions would help the children begin to recover from their traumatic experiences and move forward with their lives.