'Predatory' Dr Stephen Cox who worked in Derby could have more victims

'He is a prolific and predatory sex offender hiding beneath the mask of being a trusted doctor'

A retired doctor who once worked in Derby has been convicted for a series of indecent assaults against female patients.

Dr Stephen Cox, 65, of Stockton Mill, Welshpool, Shropshire, was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault following a trial at Reading Crown Court after a four-week trial. The retired doctor denied the 16 charges of indecent assault against seven women while practising in Bracknell, Berkshire, between 1988 and 1997.

He also practised in Burton, Wolverhampton, Derby, Measham in Leicestershire, Wokingham, Ouse Valley in West Sussex, and Telford.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Sara Di Giorgio said: “These offences occurred many years ago over a period of time in the 1980s and 1990s. I would encourage anybody who believes that they may have been a victim of Cox to come forward.”

Dr Cox indecently assaulted seven of his patients numerous times on the pretext of carrying out routine medical examinations on them. All of his patients were women. All of the offences also took place before the use of computerised healthcare records meaning that the police investigation has revolved around the retrieval of old-fashioned handwritten GP notes.

Detective Constable Sara Di Giorgio continued: “He has never displayed an ounce of remorse for what he had done and has constantly denied any wrong-doing, this despite a number of women, none of whom know each other, coming forward to report what he had done to them. We are keeping an open mind as to the possibility that Cox has committed other offences during his career.

"He is a prolific and predatory sex offender hiding beneath the mask of being a trusted doctor, and I hope that the outcome of this case will give the victims some justice. I would encourage anybody who believes that they may have been a victim of Cox to come forward, contacting us on 101 or via our website, quoting ‘Operation Kurtosis’.”

The 65-year-old will be sentenced today (Monday, October 7) at Reading Crown Court.