'Extremely serious' - South Shields sex offender is ex-serviceman with 'PTSD' from Iraq tour
A South Shields sex offender has appeared in court to admit a series of child-related sex offences.
A South Tyneside former serviceman who did tours of duty in Iraq and Northern Ireland has appeared in court to admit a series of child-related sex offences.
In one instance, Michael Cox, 64, arranged to meet a child who was in fact a decoy at Penshaw, Sunderland, but pulled out beforehand.
Cox, of Geoffrey Street, Whitburn, pleaded guilty to one count each of making one category A and two category C indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child.
He also admitted one count each of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence - sexual activity - no penetration.
Magistrates in South Tyneside heard the indecent images offences took place in South Shields between May 19, 2021, and August 30, 2022.
The engage in sexual communication offence was in South Tyneside between July 12 and August 30, 2022, with a girl he believed to be aged under 16.
And the facilitating a child sex offence happened at Penshaw, between the same dates.
‘Extremely serious matters’
Prosecutor Paul Coulson said: “Clearly, these are extremely serious matters. The sexual activity offence has been marked as a starting point of three years.
“The indecent images, it’s a starting point of 12 months. The crown’s view is that it would have to be dealt with by the crown court.”
David Forrester, defending, said Cox suffered from the mental health condition PTSD and confirmed he had served his country in Iraq and Northern Ireland.
He added: “The final offence was a meeting with a decoy that he arranged but, effectively, pulled out of.”
Granted bail
Magistrates ordered a pre-sentence report and granted Cox unconditional bail to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday, July 22.
Cox was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offence Act 2003, commonly known as being placed on the sex offender register.