Peaky Blinders extra, 33, who beat up women he met online avoids jail after changing name and failing to appear in a background check

A PEAKY Blinders extra who beat up women he met online has escaped jail after changing his name and failing to appear in a background check.

The 33-year-old wooed his dates with grand romantic gestures, such as proposing after just a month, before harassing and attacking them.

Oliver Cox dodged prison after failing to appear under Clare's Law – which allows partner's to check with cops if they are with someone who has a history of domestic violence or violent acts.

Cox allegedly concocted an elaborate web of deceit around his victims – claiming to be an actor, a boxer, a CBD oil company owner and even posing as one of the women's jealous exes online.

But despite leaving some victims requiring a restraining order to keep him away, his guilty plea last month to assault occasioning actual bodily harm after attacking single mum Lyndsey Yarwood, 35, only gave him an 18-week suspended sentence.

Lyndsey had even looked up his past using Clare's Law before the attack but claims she was told there was nothing of concern – Wiltshire Police are now conducting an internal investigation to establish why.

She believes Cox slipped through the net because he changed his name by deed poll – calling himself Bart Milben, Darren Berry and other variations of these.

Less than a year before, Cox had been convicted of assaulting former girlfriend Rosie Benson, 31, on Christmas Day 2017 – for which he was bailed and handed a community order.

Weeks before attacking Lyndsey, the thug had been instructed by cops to cease contact with another ex, Jen Atherton after harassing her when she refused to post pictures on Instagram of flowers he'd bought her.

And just months before meeting Jen, 28, last year, he'd also pleaded guilty to attacking another woman in Newcastle while on a night-out – but walked free after paying a £600 fine.

WHAT IS CLARE'S LAW?

Also known as Domestic Violence Closure Scheme, Clare's Law is intended to provide information that could protect someone from being a victim of attack.

The scheme allows the police to disclose information on request about a partner's previous history of domestic violence or violent acts.

It was introduced after 36-year-old Clare Woods was murdered by her boyfriend in 2009.

If you have concerns about your partner's background, you can apply for disclosure by going to the police.

You can visit your local station in person, call 101 or speak to an officer on the street.

'HE WAS EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN ROMCOMS'

Cox admitted to changing his name by deed poll to Bartholomew Milben and blamed his behaviour on his use of steroids but claimed he was "not a monster".

Lyndsey, from Melksham, Wiltshire, said: "He was everything you see in romcoms: rose-petal baths, cooking dinner, brilliant with the kids. And so believable – the lies and everything.

“It's mad. I’m pretty sure it’s going to take for him to actually kill someone for the courts to punish him properly.

“No wonder women don’t go through with pressing charges for domestic violence.

"He was given a two-year restraining order, but there's nothing to stop him standing outside my house as long as he doesn't contact me."

Hairdresser Lyndsey met Cox on dating website Plenty of Fish at the beginning of 2018 and the pair chatted online for almost five months before meeting.

But after an attack and violent behaviour Lyndsey fled and went to stay with her mum.

She is furious that after a warning from his ex that he had a history, her request for information on his background from police using Clare's Law failed her.

Cox said he was "mortified" by what had happened but denied treating women badly – despite acknowledging the convictions.

'WHAT HAPPENED IS DISGUSTING'

He denied creating fake LinkedIn profiles to pose as the game show producers but admitted to having 'a number of' Facebook profiles under various names.

Cox said: "[I changed my name to Bartholomew] by deed poll.

"It was for a fresh start and a sign of a new me, but I did it at a time when I was very confused about myself and I didn't have all my diagnoses.

"What happened that night [with Lyndsey] is disgusting and shouldn't have happened. It ruined what could have been a brilliant relationship.

"I ain't a monster. I've had some serious problems unfortunately, when I've had a drug addiction and took steroids.

"Unfortunately because I had a mental health problem you're adding to a chemical imbalance in your brain."

He claimed he wants to work with men who have mental health issues through a domestic abuse charity.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "This case has been referred to our Professional Standards Department and a review is currently ongoing to determine what happened in this case and why a disclosure was not made.

"Due to this investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

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