February 2015 Paedophile magician attempts to hide repulsive past by performing under a new name A paedophile magician is trying to make his vile past disappear – by doing tricks under a different name. Robert Cox left the Magic Circle after he was convicted of hoarding 18,000 child abuse pictures on his computer. He quit performing under his real name – but has now put his act back on the road using an alias. Punters who book “Robin Winter” through his website will have no idea about their trickster’s court shame, or the fact he is a registered sex offender. Cox was ordered to attend a sex offender programme in May 2012 after he was convicted of 17 charges relating to possessing indecent images of children. St Albans Crown Court heard he had 18,000 abuse images and movies on a computer, and had shared some with pals. Judge Martin Griffin, who sentenced Cox to a three-year community order, told him: “You were found with 18,000 images which you looked at and passed to friends. This causes the court a great deal of concern.” During the hearing Cox’s lawyer said the magician would not renew his membership with the Magic Circle, which boasts famous members including Dynamo, US duo Siegfried and Roy and Ken Dodd. But that does not prevent him offering his services as a “comedy magician and public speaker” – and after being spared jail Cox quietly began working again as Robin Winter. A new website for taking bookings features a snap of smiling Cox, alongside a series of glowing testimonials from satisfied punters. And despite his dropped membership, it boasts he “has performed (and lectured) many times at The Magic Circle in London and at The Magic Castle in Hollywood.” When we visited Cox at his home on Friday he told us: “Winter is a stage name. It is registered with the police. “It’s not underhand. I let my membership to the Magic Circle lapse so as not to bring any bad publicity for the organisation.” Speaking at the terraced house he appears to share with his wife in Stevenage, Herts, Cox insisted his act would never put any children at risk. May 2012 Borehamwood magician guilty of child abuse images charges Magician and public speaker Robert Cox was caught with 18,000 child sex abuse photos and movies when police examined his computer. Cox, 64, resigned from the Magic Circle because he did not want to give it a “bad press”, St Albans crown court heard yesterday. Robin Miric, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said when Cox was arrested at his home in Borehamwood on 8 February last year he gave the police a “full account” and admitted sharing some of the images with friends. The network site used to distribute the child pornography has now been closed, said Mr Miric. Cox, a former teacher, of Cobb Close, Borehamwood pleaded guilty at St Albans crown court to five charges of distributing indecent images of children, ten charges of making indecent images and two of possessing indecent images. He had no previous convictions. Most of the images were at Level 1, the lowest of five levels. There were some at Level 2, 3, and 4. Defence barrister Chloe Belton said: “He left the Magic Circle before the case came to court. He did not want to give the organisation bad press and he is not going to renew his membership.” As well as he magic work she said Cox was employed as a public speaker, on occasions being asked to carry out toasts at weddings. She handed the judge a series of references for Cox, including one from his wife. Judge Martin Griffith told him: “You were found with 18,000 images which you looked at and passed on to friends. This causes the court a great deal of concern.” The judge passed a 3 year Community Order with a condition that he attends an Internet Sex Offender Treatment Programme. He said a short prison sentence would not have allowed enough time for him to receive treatment to stop him offending again. Cox replied: “Absolutley – you won’t see me in court again.” He will be supervised for 3 years, must pay £500 prosecution costs within 28 days and sign the Sex Offender Register for 5 years.