LONDON LAWYER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL OFFENSES AFTER BOASTING ABOUT ABUSE
A disgraced solicitor named Stuart Cottis, aged 48 and residing in Rufford Street, Kings Cross, has been sentenced to prison following revelations of his criminal activities involving child sexual offenses.Cottis had a history of engaging in inappropriate online conversations where he boasted about the sexual abuse of children.
In March last year, police arrested him after discovering conversations in which he discussed and fantasized about the sexual assault of underage boys and girls.
Prosecutor Timothy Forster reported that these messages included claims that Cottis had subjected a boy he knew to sexual abuse.
During the arrest, Cottis expressed relief, stating he was glad he was caught before he could commit further contact offenses.
Previously, in November, Cottis was jailed for three years for similar offenses involving sexual conversations with children.
Although his earlier conviction was based on claims that his exchanges were mere fantasies, it has now emerged that Cottis committed in-person sexual offenses against two children.
He pleaded guilty to additional charges of sexual assault and communicating with children of primary school age, and was sentenced to a second term at Southwark Crown Court on October 1.
Defence lawyer Sean Sullivan argued that Cottis’s behavior was influenced by depression and alcohol abuse during his period of unemployment and insisted most messages were bravado and fantasy.
Judge Sally-Ann Hales KC condemned Cottis, highlighting his admitted sexual interest in children and stating that his behavior was only halted by his arrest.
She sentenced him to 10 months in prison to run concurrently with his existing three-year term.
Cottis is also subject to an 11-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
