Young love

[Gob]

A model citizen and devoted family man whose adult police record is two speeding fines has been denied work because he is ''a threat to children'',
writes legal affairs reporter Geesche Jacobsen.

Lyn and Neville Cox were childhood sweethearts who had grown up in the same street. They were very much in love. When she became pregnant at 15, Lyn's father was furious and reported 16-year-old Neville to police, who charged the boy with carnal knowledge.

The half-hour court hearing that followed seemed inconsequential, but more than 40 years later it revealed its lasting legacy, branding Mr Cox a child sex offender who should not be around children.

The couple married soon after his conviction, with nothing but a cup of tea and Vegemite sandwich with Mr Cox's family to celebrate.

They moved away and had two more children, both of whom became police officers, and are respected members of the community in Wagga Wagga.

Mr Cox's only brush with the law since has been two speeding fines.

Over the years he didn't give his juvenile record any thought.

''I just presumed that when I turned 18 it was all over red rover,'' he said.

It was not until a few years ago he learnt it wasn't.

He had been working as a roof tiler for years and had quoted to do maintenance at several schools when he was asked to undergo the obligatory Working with Children Check.

The check, which examines criminal records, disciplinary proceedings and apprehended violence orders (AVOs), brought up his 40-year-old conviction and he was told he would not get the job.

Even though he was only 16 when his future wife became pregnant, Mr Cox was caught under laws designed to prevent adults who had abused or assaulted children from having unsupervised contact with children.

''It's ridiculous. You find out 40 years down the track that your name is on this sort of list of bad people. I've never done anything wrong in my life. I just thought it [having a criminal record] was totally wrong. The guys that asked me to quote the work for them have known me for years. It was a shock to them [too],'' Mr Cox said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/young-love-co ... z1tNzthk00

[MajGenl.Meade]

"The couple married soon after his conviction, with nothing but a cup of tea and Vegemite sandwich with Mr Cox's family to celebrate"


One of the warning signs of a potential child molester is contained in that sentence. What is it boys and girls?

[The Hen]

His childishly amusing surname!

[MajGenl.Meade]

Pa wouldn't but marmite