In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Anthony Cox, then 62, of Cote Road, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire, was jailed for 12 months for repeatedly flouting the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, Cox appeared at Oxford Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the defendant, who has a “deplorable” criminal record of 68 offences, was caught volunteering at a shop used by primary school pupils.
The investigation established that between November 2024 and April 2025, Cox deleted his internet history on at least 20 occasions and downloaded forensic software to hide his digital activity. Thames Valley Police conducted an unannounced visit to his home in Aston in March 2025, during which his laptop was seized. Cox admitted to deleting the history because he had been viewing images of children in swimwear. Despite this, on 19 January 2026, he failed to provide a second laptop for inspection—which he claimed to have “forgotten” in a bag—and was found to be undertaking voluntary work that brought him into direct contact with children.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Cox had been volunteering at a local shop situated near a primary school, a location frequently visited by young pupils. Oxford Crown Court heard that Cox admitted to serving a child under the age of 16 while working there. During police interviews, the defendant claimed the terms of his SHPO were “confusing,” a justification dismissed by the prosecution, given his extensive history of 31 previous convictions, many for sexual offences.
Judge Michael Gledhill KC noted that Cox’s criminal record was “deplorable” and that his actions represented a blatant disregard for the orders designed to protect the public. The judge noted that the use of forensic software and the deletion of internet history showed a calculated attempt to bypass police monitoring. For his actions in Aston, Oxfordshire, and his failure to comply with statutory requirements, Cox was handed an immediate 12-month custodial sentence.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Anthony Cox was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 12 months in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SHPO: Remains subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Oxford Crown Court following three guilty pleas for breaching his SHPO.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Cox is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Thames Valley Police and the prison estate. Due to his “deplorable” history and his attempts to hide his activity in Aston, Oxfordshire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Cox must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Cote Road, Aston, for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his use of forensic software and his unauthorised voluntary work near a school necessitate intense scrutiny of his digital and social activity upon his release. Any further breach of his registration conditions, his SHPO, or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Oxford Crown Court.
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