James Ross Cox jailed for possessing and sharing child exploitation material

A Davoren Park labourer caught with child exploitation material in the most serious of categories was sharing the vile videos on WhatsApp, a court has heard.

A father who was jailed for three years after he was caught with sickening child abuse material files is upset he has let his family down.

James Ross Cox, 58, transitioned to his sinister online habit after he stopped working and struggled to find meaning in his life, a court has heard.

The Adelaide District Court heard police received information that Cox was accessing child exploitation material and attended his Davoren Park address on March 2, 2021.

The court heard one phone contained 78 child exploitation files, while another contained at least 50 child exploitation videos.

Most of the files were in category four of the Oliver Scale – which forms the basis on which child exploitation images and videos are graded – depicting penetrative sexual acts between adults and children under the age of 14.

Police also established Cox disseminated 59 child exploitation material videos by WhatsApp on six occasions between December 2020 and January 2021.

“The discussion that accompanied your dissemination of these items makes it plain that this material was disturbing and that you were aware of its content,” Judge Julie McIntyre said during sentencing.

James Cox was jailed for possessing child exploitation material. Photo: Ben Cameron

Cox pleaded guilty to possessing and disseminating child exploitation material.

The court heard Cox had previously worked as a labourer but was now on the disability support pension after physical problems arose.

Cox began struggling to find purpose in his life and turned to alcohol and drugs, as well as becoming addicted to pornography, the court heard.

“(A psychologist) says that, over time, you became entrapped in a cycle of looking for new and more extreme pornographic material to sexually stimulate you,” Judge McIntyre said.

“This led you to the material that brings you here today.”

The court heard Cox had written a letter of apology for his offending.

“You are upset that you have let your family down as they will struggle without your practical and financial support,” Judge McIntyre said.

Judge McIntyre sentenced Cox to three years and nine months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year and 11 months.

“You have created a market for the continued corruption and exploitation of children,” she said.

By possessing and disseminating this material you encourage and you add to the abuse of these unfortunate children.”