The first ever person to be convicted for “sex-for-rent” offences in England and Wales has been jailed for 12 months. Landlord Christopher Cox, 53, “targeted vulnerable young women” who needed a place to stay, including one female who was homeless, “unwell and desperate”, Guildford Crown Court heard on Tuesday (10 May).
Cox previously pleaded guilty to a charge of controlling prostitution for gain and two counts of inciting prostitution for gain. Judge Robert Fraser told Cox that his behaviour was a “cynical attempt to take advantage by dangling a carrot to those who had little choice” and that he was involved in “very deliberately targeting homeless women who were vulnerable”.
The judge said the offending has now become “colloquially known as sex-for-rent” and “this is the first such prosecution that has been brought”. Cox posted adverts on classifieds website Craigslist looking for young or homeless women to stay with him at his then home in Cranleigh, Surrey.
