DAVID COX FROM OXFORD FLOUTS SEX OFFENDER BAN AT ST EBBE’S CHURCH

In a disturbing case that has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of monitoring sex offenders, David Cox, a convicted sex offender from Oxford, was found to have repeatedly violated the conditions of his sexual offences prevention order (Sopo).

Despite being under police supervision and subject to restrictions that prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children, Cox was able to attend Sunday services at St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford over a span of two years. During this period, he was observed engaging in conversations with children, including a particularly vulnerable underage girl, raising alarm among parents and church officials alike.

The Oxford Mail reports that these breaches went unnoticed until Cox was caught downloading extreme pornography at the Lucy Faithfull House hostel by a support worker. This discovery prompted further investigation into his activities, revealing that he had been attending church services, Bible study sessions for the homeless, and even taking piano lessons from a staff member, all of which involved contact with minors.

Thames Valley Police, responsible for enforcing Cox’s Sopo, defended their management of the case. A police spokesperson stated, “Thames Valley Police was responsible for managing him as part of a sexual offences prevention order. As soon as it came to light that Cox was breaching his order, officers immediately intervened and he was arrested. Off the back of that arrest, further offences have come to light for which he has now been convicted. Although it is never possible to entirely eliminate risk, Thames Valley Police has a good record for the management of these offenders.”

However, critics such as Marilyn Hawes, founder of the campaign group Enough Abuse, expressed outrage at the police’s handling of the situation. She emphasized that the failure to monitor Cox effectively was a serious flaw in the system. Hawes argued that the Thames Valley Probation Service, which is part of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), should have been more proactive in overseeing Cox’s activities.

Hawes stated, “If Thames Valley Police are happy with what they have allowed to happen, then they should be ashamed.”

Meanwhile, representatives from St Ebbe’s Church, including Reverend Peter Wilkinson, asserted that the church takes the safety of children very seriously. He mentioned that the church had raised concerns with police as early as July of the previous year, indicating that the church was aware of the potential risks posed by Cox’s presence.

At Oxford Crown Court, Judge Mary Jane Mowat sentenced Cox to two years in prison after he admitted to breaching his Sopo between January 1 and July 31. He also pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing extreme pornography and one charge of making indecent photographs of children. Cox, who resides on Speedwell Street, was also ordered to sign the sex offender register for ten years and was given a lifetime Sopo.

The case has sparked wider concerns about the management and monitoring of sex offenders in Oxfordshire. Recent figures indicate that there are currently 282 registered sex offenders living in the county, an increase from 251 in 2010, according to the Ministry of Justice’s latest Mappa report. The report also notes that approximately 0.043% of Oxfordshire’s population of 648,700 are sex offenders, underscoring the importance of effective oversight and community safety measures.

As the community grapples with the implications of this case, questions remain about how such breaches can be prevented in the future and whether current systems are sufficient to protect vulnerable children from individuals like David Cox.