Jan 2009

Paedophile jailed

A predatory paedophile who groomed young girls on the internet before raping and indecently assaulting them was jailed for 14 years today.

Graeme Cox, 39, of Barton Way, Rickmansworth, admitted befriending two girls in online chat rooms before meeting and attacking them.

The traveling salesman pleaded guilty to 32 child abuse charges at St Albans Crown Court, including three counts of rape.

He also admitted making, distributing, and possessing indecent images of children and confessed to a series of other offences against a third girl.

Cox’s crimes came to light when he boasted of his actions in another internet chat room, even sending photographic evidence to a man who later called the police.

After raiding his home officers found nearly 1,000 videos of depraved and sordid abuse – a collection described by Judge Michael Baker QC as “disgusting.”

Also uncovered was evidence linking Cox to his victims.

The girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were threatened, cajoled and even bribed into compliance, each meeting him near their homes in Derbyshire and Lancashire.

One, a 12 year-old girl, was bought mobile phone credit by Cox before agreeing to meet him.

After picking her up from a supermarket car park Cox drove the girl to a derelict garage where he persuaded her to perform sex act on him – an act he filmed on his mobile phone.

His victim agreed to a second meeting only when he threatened to send three men to her home. On that occasion she was raped in the back of his green Jaguar.

Bespectacled Cox stood emotionless in the dock as his sentence was read out. His expression changed little as he was led away.

Jailing him for a total of 14 years Judge Baker told him that he posed a serious risk to young girls.

He said: “You ensnared these girls using a mixture of bribery, threats and flattery. You sunk deep into the mire of compulsive sexual perversion.”

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Paul Doran said after the hearing: “Cox was a dangerous and prolific offender who took advantage of his vulnerable victims in the most cynical way.

“He ruthlessly groomed his victims for his own purposes with no regard to the impact of his actions.”

Cox will serve at least half of his sentence.