22-year sentence handed to sex assaults GP upheld

APPEAL COURT REJECTS APPEAL THE PRISON TERM TOO HARSH

- By DYLAN HAYWARD

A FORMER doctor has lost his appeal against the prison sentence he received for sexually assaulting female patients.

Stephen Cox, pictured, was jailed in October last year after being convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault against seven women.

The offences took place between 1988 and 1997 at his surgery in Bracknell, Berkshire, when he worked as a GP.

He also worked in Measham during his career.

The 65-year-old, from Stockton Mill, Welshpool, Shropshire, asked the Court of Appeal to cut his sentence, claiming it was too harsh.

His lawyers argued consecutive sentences should not have been imposed for offences against the same victim and that the overall sentence was manifestly excessive.