Locations
Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28
Description
A man who stalked, sexually assaulted and raped a number of women across Scotland has been jailed for more than 12 years.
Steffan Cox - who was said to have "an obsessive and highly dangerous interest in rape" - repeatedly targeted young women he met on social media and dating apps.
The 25-year-old's "appalling and predatory behaviour" included making anonymous and indecent phone calls, threatening to rape his victims.
Judge Lord Young said: "One of the recipients of your phone calls was aged just 15 at the time.
"You told another woman that you would rape her so that her son could hear her screaming. It is not difficult to imagine just how terrifying the calls must have been to these women."
Cox was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday after being convicted of 21 sexual offences that occurred between 2016 and 2022.
He had previously pleaded guilty to indecent communication offences back in February.
Cox was jailed for 12 years and nine months. He will also be supervised for a further four years upon his release from prison and was added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
Lord Young noted that Cox continues to deny responsibility for the most serious offences but spared him from an order for lifelong restriction.
The judge explained: "You are still a young man with one analogous previous conviction and I consider that you ought to be given an opportunity to demonstrate that you can return to society after rehabilitation without the ultimate sanction of an order for lifelong restriction being imposed."
However, Lord Young noted that Cox had exhibited "escalating and compulsive sexual offending".
He added: "Your previous conviction in 2017 involved making sexually violent calls to two teenagers, but that conviction has not caused you to change your behaviour. Indeed, quite the reverse.
"You clearly have an obsessive and highly dangerous interest in rape."
Detective Sergeant Julie Nedley, of the National Rape Taskforce, said Cox was now facing the consequences of his "appalling and predatory behaviour".
DS Nedley added: "The victims have shown great courage in coming forward with vital information, making sure he was held accountable for his actions, and ultimately convicted.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank the public and partner agencies for their assistance and information provided, particularly in providing support to the women involved.
"I hope this sentence provides a sense of closure for them and sends a clear message that all reports of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland and victims will be supported throughout."