DAVID COX AND SHOCKING CHILD GROOMING PLOT IN MANCHESTER PARKS
A 57-year-old man named David Cox from Manchester has been convicted of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor after arranging to meet a 13-year-old boy in a public park.Cox's interactions began online, where he persisted in speaking with an individual he believed was a young boy, but who was actually an adult decoy working with a vigilante group.
Cox initiated contact by asking the decoy about his age, where he was from, and his sexual preferences.
When the decoy revealed he was 13 years old from Manchester and expressed disinterest in girls, Cox responded by suggesting a meeting at Queens Park, which is located off Rochdale Road.
He openly admitted that he was looking for a “regular f*** buddy,” revealing his intentions with alarming clarity.
Over subsequent days, Cox continued to send explicit messages, asking whether the decoy was “horny,” and even boasted about teaching him how to perform sexual acts, further emphasizing his grooming intentions.
Despite attempting to appear casual, the messages were filled with vile sexual content, and Cox’s eagerness to pursue the meeting grew more apparent.
In July of this year, Cox proceeded to the park with the apparent plan to meet the minor, only to be met by members of a vigilant group who had set a trap for him.
It was evident that he had been speaking to a decoy, and at that moment, law enforcement officials were summoned.
During a search of his belongings, officers uncovered items such as lubricant and a torch, indicating he may have been prepared for a sexual encounter.
This case is not Cox’s first brush with similar allegations.
Previously, in 2017, he was caught trying to meet a 12-year-old boy in a children’s park, but once again, he was stopped by a paedophile hunter group.
His history of prior convictions underscores a troubling pattern of behavior.
On December 22, during the court hearing, Cox pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to communicate sexually with a child and trying to meet a minor following grooming.
Prosecutor Charlotte Rimmer outlined the details of the case, noting that Cox’s conversations with the decoy, who was part of the ‘Saving Our Children’ group, were especially disturbing.
It was revealed that Cox contacted the minor on July 22 and, during their conversations, asked about his sexual preferences, falsely claiming to be 45 years old.
He then proposed that they meet in person, sharing his phone number and suggesting they communicate through WhatsApp.
Cox also repeatedly called the decoy “very handsome,” and inquired about smoking and drinking habits.
The prosecution highlighted that, around midnight, Cox asked if the decoy felt “horny,” whether he was erect, and repeatedly expressed his willingness to teach him how to perform sexual acts.
He instructed the decoy to keep the communication secret and shared that he had previously been involved with a younger individual, stating that the other person was 12 and about to perform a sex act with him before Cox left.
The conversations also involved Cox suggesting they could be boyfriends and asking intrusive questions about the minor’s mother placing a tracker on his phone.
When Cox arrived at Queens Park in Harpurhey on July 25 with the intention to meet the decoy, he was met with members of the vigilante group waiting for him.
On seeing them, Cox tried to flee but was quickly apprehended.
It was also disclosed that Cox has an extensive criminal record with 19 previous convictions, including prior offenses related to attempting to meet a child following grooming.
Additional details revealed that in a separate incident, Cox engaged in conversations on Grindr with another decoy, where he expressed a desire to engage in sexual acts and acknowledged carrying alcohol, poppers, and lubricant, all while being HIV positive.
During the court proceedings, his defense lawyer, Adrian Palmer, indicated that Cox expected a harsher sentence and explained that his client was on medication which rendered his HIV undetectable, meaning it could not be transmitted.
Further complicating his medical background, Cox was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In sentencing, Recorder Neil Usher noted that Cox’s early plea of guilty was his primary mitigation.
The judge stated, “You thought you were communicating with a 13-year-old boy, and you attended the meeting with lubricant.
I am satisfied that you took that with you because you were intending to engage in sexual acts with the child.” As a result, Cox was sentenced to 28 months in prison, with an additional three years on license.
The court’s ruling also classified him as a dangerous offender, which requires him to serve a minimum of seven months in prison, followed by two-thirds of his sentence before eligibility for parole.
Furthermore, Cox is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, marking a significant step in safeguarding the community against similar threats in the future.
