David Anthony Cotton

A man from Leigh Park has been jailed for 18 years following his conviction on 28 counts of sexual offences committed against children over a period exceeding 40 years. David Anthony Cotton, aged 60, of Middle Park Way, was found guilty by a jury at Portsmouth Crown Court on 11 November 2024 after a five-week trial. The offences, which took place in locations including Havant, Denmead, Southsea, Hambledon, and Chichester in West Sussex, involved ten different victims and dated from the late 1970s to 2021.

The investigation, led by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary's specialist Operation Amberstone team, lasted three years and resulted in Cotton being charged with a series of grave sexual crimes against minors. These included seven counts of indecent assault on a male aged between 8 and 15, two counts of indecency with a boy aged between 8 and 10, four counts of indecency with a girl under the age of 14, two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, one count of sexual activity with a child, and eleven counts of sexual assault on a male under the age of 18. Cotton, known to many as 'Big Dave', pleaded not guilty to all charges but was unanimously convicted on every count.

During the sentencing hearing on 22 January 2025 at Portsmouth Crown Court, the judge described Cotton as a prolific offender and a danger to society, remanding him into custody immediately after the verdict. The court imposed an 18-year custodial sentence, extended by a further five years on licence due to his classification as a dangerous offender. Additionally, Cotton was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect the public from further harm.

Detective Constable Hollie Shelton from the Operation Amberstone team commented on the outcome, stating, 'I am very pleased with this result and that the totality of the sentence was met by an applause from a very full court room today full of victims, witnesses and other members of the public. The sentence is significant given the challenging nature of investigating non-recent offences where evidence can be more difficult to obtain, but I am very happy that Cotton will finally face justice for his despicable crimes.' The bravery of the victims in coming forward was highlighted as pivotal to securing the conviction, with hopes that the sentence provides them some measure of closure.

This case underscores the constabulary's commitment to pursuing justice in historical sexual abuse matters, with the full extent of Cotton's predatory behaviour uncovered through persistent investigative efforts.