A Pontypool Paedophile, Daniel Cox apprehended with child sexual abuse photographs on his computer asserted that he had been hacked or was a victim of a virus.
Daniel Cox upheld the deception until the day of the trial, when he reversed his position, confessed, and acknowledged the charges.
Roger Griffiths, the prosecutor, stated: “During the interview, he asserted his innocence, claiming he must have been a victim of hacking or a virus.”
The defendant, Daniel Cox, residing on High Street, Pontypool, acknowledged possession of 14 category A, 18 category B, 32 category C, and one forbidden image of a child.
Kevin Seal, his representative, stated in mitigation: “The defendant has undergone a complete reversal and now fully acknowledges his participation in these offenses.”
“So perhaps that’s his first step on the road to rehabilitation for what he said to the probation officer which he has not admitted previously for reasons of embarrassment or the like.”
Judge Timothy Petts told the defendant: “In January 2020, police attended your house after reports of images of child sexual abuse being downloaded there.
“You claimed you had been hacked and maintained that allegation all the way through until the day of your trial.
“The most serious images are in category A.
“There are some very young children involved but there’s no evidence of moving images or searching for them.
“The images were created it seems over a 10-month period.”
Daniel Cox was jailed for 58 weeks, suspended for 24 months, back in 2023 so look out.
He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, complete a sex offender programme and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
The defendant must register as a sex offender for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until 2032.
Daniel Cox is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults and has to pay the statutory victim surcharge.
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