RAYMOND COX FROM EAST HUNTSPILL ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY DISCOVERY

In a case that has shocked the local community of East Huntspill, Raymond Cox, a 62-year-old resident of Church Close, was found to possess an alarming collection of child pornography on his personal computer. The authorities uncovered more than 10,000 indecent images stored on his computer hard drive, with evidence indicating that these images had been accumulated over a long period, dating back to 2004.

During the proceedings at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, March 9, Cox pleaded guilty to ten counts of making indecent photographs of children. Despite the severity of the charges, he was not sentenced to prison but was instead given a community order. The court heard that Cox, who is married and has two adult children, had been viewing these illicit images over an extended period, raising concerns about his ongoing behavior.

Prosecutor Caroline Bolt detailed the findings, stating, “We found computer equipment with images on from 2004. He was viewing images over a long period of time.” The discovery of such a vast collection of illegal material highlights the disturbing nature of the case and the potential risk posed to children.

Defense attorney Patrick Mason argued that Cox’s actions might have been motivated by personal circumstances, revealing that Cox was planning to emigrate to be closer to his two children who had moved abroad. Mason expressed concern that this criminal record could jeopardize those plans. He emphasized Cox’s background, saying, “He’s been married for 41 years with two grown-up children and has worked all his life. He is extremely stressed, and the heart attack he suffered last October was because of the stress over this.” Mason also pointed out that Cox was not acting with arrogance or denial, suggesting a level of remorse.

However, Judge Michael Longman addressed the court with a firm stance on the protection of children. He stated, “These were images of young children being exploited by adults for the sexual gratification of other adults like yourself. I need to do what I can to protect children in the future. The order I have made is what I feel to be most effective.”

As a result of the court’s decision, Cox was placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and received a three-year community order. The case underscores the ongoing concerns about online child exploitation and the importance of judicial measures to prevent future harm, even when offenders are not incarcerated.