December 2011 Sex-abuse victim tells of her ‘messed up’ life as attacker sent to jail A VICTIM of sexual assault dating back to the 1990s has told how the experience ruined her life – after seeing her abuser jailed for four years. The woman, who is now 25, was sexually abused by Maldwyn Cox when she was 11. Cox, 37, admitted two charges of unlawful sexual intercourse and one offence of indecent assault against her between 1997 and 1998. His victim told the Derby Telegraph: “I feel like I have been robbed. It’s messed up my whole life. I’m having to go to counselling. “I’m devastated at the length of the sentence. Burglars get locked up for longer.” Derby Crown Court heard that Cox, of Worcester Crescent, Chaddesden, was in his early 20s when he had sex with the girl. The woman, who reported the abuse last year, told police she felt “disgusting and dirty” after it happened and felt the same about it now. Recorder Christopher Donnellan, QC, told Cox: “That’s the consequence of what you were doing – that many years later, the feelings and disgust are just as alive as when it happened.” The victim told police that at the time she did not understand what was happening. Cox had been someone showing her attention and it happened at a time when she felt there was no one there for her emotionally. Prosecutor Avik Mukherjee said: “She says it’s had a big impact on her life. It has affected further relationships and resulted in her seeing men in a bad way.” Mr Mukherjee said that, in the early 1990s, Cox was questioned by police about sexually assaulting two girls under the age of 10. He had been 16 at the time. He said: “Although it did not result in any court proceedings, he admitted he had assaulted both girls.” The court heard that a psychiatrist, who assessed Cox, concluded he was a man of “dull intelligence” but that he did not suffer from any mental disorder. The psychiatrist also said Cox was unlikely to act in a predatory way in the future. Sarah Munro, for Cox, said: “There were no threats made by this defendant, no drink or drugs given to the victim and no coercion. “Although he has not been tremendously successful in relationships thereafter, at least he’s not carried on involving himself with young girls.” Cox must sign the sex offenders’ register and is disqualified from working with children for life. After his release, he must obey a sexual offences prevention order, including not being alone with under-16s.