WIREDGOV

Two suspected child sexual offenders - wanted in Canada and Australia respectively after going on the run - have been tracked down by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and extradited by Australian and Canadian authorities in the last few days to face trials overseas.
In two unrelated cases, investigators from CEOP – the UK’s national centre for child protection – worked with international law enforcement agencies to track down:

• John Cox, 34, a Canadian national, who had fled trial in Canada, to Ashford in Kent, and
• Roderick Robinson, 72, a British man wanted for alleged child sexual offences in Australia who was tracked to Portugal

Both men will now face prosecution - Cox in Canada and Robinson in Australia.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP, said: “These individuals thought that they could cover their tracks and avoid law enforcement, but they underestimated the determination of CEOP and – in Cox’s case – Kent Police – to capture them. Both men represented a potential threat to children and we are pleased that they are back where they should be – facing justice.”

John Cox, an IT specialist who attempted to use anti-tracking methods to thwart attempts by detectives, is back in the custody of Saanich (Canadian) Police today, Tuesday 8 June, after being on the run for three months following a joint operation between the CEOP Centre, Kent Police, Interpol and Saanich Police Department, Canada.

In April 2010, the CEOP Centre received information that Cox may be on the run in the UK following his failure to appear at his trial in Saanich, Canada in February where he was to face nine child sex offence charges, two firearms offences and breach of recognizance. The child sex offencesincluded contact offences against a child, grooming offences and possession of child abuse images.
Using different aliases of Sean Pulsen and Jean Guillaume and using IT software and encryption to disguise his online identity, Cox attempted to frustrate law enforcement attempts to track him down.  All proved futile.

Through the work of CEOP detectives and specially trained investigators, Cox’s movements were monitored and he was located in Kent.   Working alongside officers from the Public Protection Unit in Kent Police, local enquiries established that Cox was lodging at a suburban residence in Ashford. 

Analysing all available intelligence on Cox’s alleged offending behaviour in Canada, CEOP and Kent Police officers acted quickly to arrest Cox on 5 May on a provisional international arrest warrant issued by Saanich Police Department via Interpol.  Shortly afterwards, officers from the Metropolitan Police Extradition Unit secured Cox’s return back to Canada.

Detective Inspector Matthew Long from Kent Police's Public Protection Unit said: “Public protection is Kent Police's priority and our officers work closely with other agencies to ensure that anyone who poses a risk in our communities is put before the courts - anywhere in the world - to face charges put to them.”

Saanich Police: “Time and distance are no longer barriers people may use easily to evade justice when accused of criminal behaviour – we are using advances in technology and communication to our advantage”, said Saanich Police Chief Constable Mike Chadwick. “Crimes against children continue to be a top priority for policing agencies throughout the world”.

Roderick Robinson arrived in Australia on Sunday 6 June following his extradition from Portugal. He had been on the run since 2001 for alleged sexual offences against a child in Australia. 

Roderick Robinson was arrested first in 2001 in Australia for the alleged assault of a young girl and was bailed pending court hearings.  He failed to appear to answer the charges in 2001.  Fleeing Australia, he entered New Zealand where he was arrested for child sex offences allegedly committed there. He was granted bail with the requirement he surrender his passport. In November 2009 using a stolen passport, Robinson left New Zealand bound for the UK.

Piecing together intelligence on his transient movements in the UK, CEOP investigators worked with local police and UK Borders Agency and located him in Portugal.  The Overseas Tracker Team disseminated intelligence on Robinson to Portugal, via Interpol, to advise them of the threat he posed to children in their country. In response to Australia’s request for Robinson’s urgent provisional arrest, Portuguese police arrested Robinson in March 2010. His prosecution is now before the courts in New South Wales, Australia.

Notes to editors:
The CEOP Centre works in both online and offline environments to protect children from sexual exploitation. Full information on all areas of work as well as online safety messages and access to online reporting can be found at www.ceop.police.uk

Press office contacts:
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre       0870 000 3434
Kent Police                                                                        01622 652150
New South Wales Police, Australia                              +61 428436419
Saanich Police Department, Canada                           +01 250-883-0857 or +01 250-475-4337