DAVID COOK FROM EXETER AND LITTLEHAMPTON ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE CHILD NAPPY IMAGES

In October 2013, a man known as David Cook, who resides in Exeter and Littlehampton, narrowly avoided imprisonment after a police investigation uncovered images of children in nappies on his computer. Cook, aged 32, suffers from a rare psychological condition called paraphilic infantilism, also known as adult baby syndrome, which leads him to dress in oversized nappies when at home. His unusual lifestyle was brought to light during a court hearing, revealing that he had amassed a collection of approximately 90,000 images depicting babies in nappies. These images were obtained after he entered search terms such as ‘cloth diapers’ and ‘kids in diaper punishment’ into his internet browser, as the court was informed.

Further investigation uncovered that Cook had also downloaded around 250 indecent images of babies. Despite the serious nature of these findings, Cook was not sentenced to jail time. The judge explained that the images he viewed were not illegal, as he had accessed them by accident while searching for non-illegal nappy pictures. A leading expert in sexual offending testified that Cook did not have a sexual interest in children; rather, his internet activity was a manifestation of his attempt to retreat into early childhood as a coping mechanism. The court heard that Cook, at the time of the investigation, was living in Millers Way, Honiton, but has since moved to Alphington Street, Exeter.

Cook admitted to 11 counts of making or possessing indecent images. He was sentenced to four months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid community service, pay costs amounting to £350, and sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years. A Sexual Offences Prevention Order was also imposed, granting authorities the ability to monitor his internet activity.

Assistant Judge Advocate General Mr. Alan Large explained that he was suspending the prison sentence after considering reports from a psychologist and a probation officer, both of whom assessed Cook as posing a very low risk to children. During the hearing, the judge addressed Cook directly, stating, “You have pleaded guilty on the basis you have a condition called paraphilic infantilism and you have set out how it affects your life. The essence of this condition is that you seek relief from the stresses of life by dressing in nappies and pretending to be a baby. It is described as a lifestyle condition. It is something you do in private in your own home, and you otherwise lead a normal life and have held down a full-time job for a responsible employer.”

The judge emphasized that Cook’s condition had led him to spend considerable time online viewing images of young children in nappies, with over 90,000 such images found on his computer. While this interest was concerning, the judge clarified that possessing such material was not illegal, but it did highlight a troubling fascination with young children. The court also noted that while viewing this legal material, Cook also encountered a small number of illegal images. However, there was no evidence to suggest he actively sought out illegal content. The judge pointed out that Cook must have been aware of the risks involved from the very first time illegal images appeared on his screen and that he continued to view such material despite knowing the potential consequences.

Police raided Cook’s rented room in Honiton approximately 13 months prior to the court hearing. During the search, Cook admitted immediately that there were images of babies in nappies on his computer. Officers discovered four small nappies in his bedroom, which were too tiny for him to have worn himself. An analysis of his computer revealed a total of 250 images, including 41 classified as the most severe categories, showing children being abused by adults. The police report stated, “Large quantities of images of children and babies in nappies were found, which were not illegal but demonstrated the defendant’s interest in children of this age.”

In his defense, lawyer Mr. Brendon Moorhouse argued that Cook had never intended to download illegal images and had deleted such images when he accidentally opened them. He explained that illegal images constituted less than 0.3% of the total images of children on his device, with the majority being legal. Moorhouse also provided background on Cook’s troubled upbringing, stating that he had been bullied at school and subsequently retreated into infantilism as a form of escape. The lawyer described Cook as socially awkward and isolated, having grown up in difficult circumstances, and suggested that his condition was a response to the pressures of life rather than a predatory intent.