PETER COX FROM SWINDON CAUGHT WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Swindon, Peter Cox, a 58-year-old resident, was found to have downloaded and stored child pornography on his personal computer. The incident came to light in March 2006 when authorities uncovered his activities during a raid on his home.

According to reports, Cox's involvement was discovered after he used his credit card to subscribe to an American-based website called Landslide. This subscription led investigators to trace his online activity, ultimately resulting in a police raid on his residence. The authorities acted swiftly, seizing his laptop and several compact disks during the operation on March 3, 2003.

During questioning, Cox admitted to the police that he had paid to access the website and acknowledged that his computer contained hundreds of images. He claimed that he did not derive any sexual gratification from viewing the material, which included child pornography. However, the analysis of his computer revealed a troubling collection of 2,583 images, meticulously organized on his hard drive and on the disks he possessed.

The case was brought before Swindon Crown Court, where Cox faced multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making indecent images of a child and one count of possession. The prosecution, led by Rob Welling, detailed the extent of the material found, emphasizing the careful cataloging of the images on Cox's devices.

During the proceedings, Cox's defense attorney, Jonathan Simpson, argued that the majority of the images were not among the most serious categories, aside from a set of 18 images classified as level five. Simpson highlighted that Cox had shown significant improvement over the three years since the case was first brought to light, attributing his actions to curiosity rather than malicious intent. He also pointed out that Cox was in a long-term relationship of 30 years, caring for a partner with health issues who depended on him.

Despite the defense's arguments, the judge, John McNaught, decided against imprisonment. Recognizing that Cox would likely be released after a short period if jailed and that treatment was necessary, the judge imposed a three-year probation order. Cox was also ordered to participate in the Thames Valley sex offenders' program and to register as a sex offender, emphasizing the seriousness of the offense and the need for ongoing monitoring.