Dr Tony Cox Sentenced to 150 Hrs Community Service

Dr Tony Cox Scottish welfare activist was today sentenced to 150 hours community service at Dundee Sheriff Court after being convicted of threatening behaviour towards employees of MAXIMUS Inc who carry out DWP Work Capability Assessments on disabled people on behalf of the British Government.

According to the Scottish Herald: Cox, who volunteers for the Scottish Unemployed Workers Network, plans to appeal against his conviction and community payback sentence handed down at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday.

He said he was extremely disappointed with the verdict and called the ruling a “political attack”.

Cox, of Dundee, added: “I am furious with the verdict, being made to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within six months is a clear attack on my ability to carry out my work helping people through the Scottish Unemployed Workers Network.”

Trouble began when Cox attended the Maximus Assessment Centre at Caledonian House in Dundee on November 15 last year, and Maximus refused to allow him to accompany a vulnerable woman to her assessment and called the police.

Cox was arrested and held overnight in police cells. The court heard that he argued with Maximus employees that the claimant had the right to be accompanied.

Dr Cox will be appealing against conviction and sentence.

ABC Comment: The irony of this case is that Dr Tony Cox spends all of his time serving the communitity and it was serving the community that brought Dr Cox into a disagreement with employees of MAXIMUS Inc. Dr Cox has feature in Q&A's with us and we wish Dr Cox all the best with his appeal.