ADAM COOKE FROM EDGBASTON JAILED FOR GROOMING TEENAGE GIRL IN WOLVERHAMPTON AND ONLINE

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online grooming, Adam Cooke, a 23-year-old man from Edgbaston, was sentenced to prison after engaging in a prolonged and manipulative campaign to groom a 15-year-old schoolgirl. The incident unfolded over several weeks, during which Cooke initially made contact with the young girl through Instagram. Recognizing the ephemeral nature of the platform, he later transitioned their conversations to Snapchat, citing the desire to avoid message deletion as his reason for doing so.

Throughout their interactions, Cooke sent the girl an indecent photograph and persistently bombarded her with explicit messages. He also requested revealing pictures of her in scant clothing and posed inappropriate, sexually charged questions. His grooming efforts culminated in a meeting in Wolverhampton, where the two shared an awkward conversation and a brief cuddle, marking a troubling escalation in his manipulative behavior.

The victim’s mother played a crucial role in exposing Cooke’s actions. During a discussion about the risks associated with grooming, the girl confided in her mother about the messages she had received. This revelation prompted her mother to investigate further, leading to the discovery that Cooke was the sender. When her mother recognized Cooke’s name, she recalled that he had previously attracted media attention in 2015 for similar offenses, including inciting children to engage in sexual activities, possessing indecent images of minors, and taking indecent photographs of children. She showed her daughter news articles about Cooke, and upon viewing his photographs on Instagram, the girl confirmed that he was the same individual.

Further details emerged during the court proceedings, revealing that Cooke had contacted the girl again in April of this year, fully aware of her age. He continued his inappropriate behavior by sending her an indecent picture via Snapchat and asking for images of her in her underwear. The girl refused these requests and, after Cooke’s continued sexual messages, she decided to block him on social media platforms. Despite her efforts to cut off contact, Cooke persisted in sending more messages of a sexual nature. It was only after her mother’s intervention and her own growing courage that she told Cooke to “f**k off.”

Adam Cooke, who resides on Carlyle Road in Edgbaston, faced justice at Wolverhampton Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. The court sentenced him to 12 months in prison. Recorder Stuart Sprawson emphasized that Cooke would serve half of his sentence before being eligible for release, with the remainder to be served on licence, underscoring the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risks associated with such behavior.