GARY COOPER JAILED FOR 14 YEARS IN LEICESTER FOR ABUSE OF NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In a case that has shocked the community of Leicester, Gary Cooper, a resident of Keightley Road, New Parks, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 14 years after being convicted of heinous sexual offenses against a young girl.The crimes, which spanned over five years, involved multiple acts of sexual violence against a nine-year-old victim, including two rapes and three indecent assaults.
During the sentencing hearing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Lea condemned Cooper’s actions, emphasizing the severity and malicious intent behind his crimes.
The judge stated that Cooper had 'violated' his young victim with complete disregard for her well-being or the impact on her family.
He described the offenses as 'deliberate, planned, and calculated,' underscoring the premeditated nature of Cooper’s abuse.
Cooper’s conviction followed a trial held at Nottingham Crown Court in June, where a jury reached a majority verdict of 10 to 2 in favor of guilt on two counts of rape and three charges of indecent assault.
Despite the conviction on these charges, Cooper was acquitted of 21 other allegations involving three different young girls over nearly two decades, highlighting the complexity and difficulty often associated with such cases.
The court heard that the first assault occurred in the 1980s, shortly after Cooper had collected the young girl from an event at Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road ground.
The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, recounted that the assault took place at Cooper’s former residence in Thurnby Lodge.
She described her experience, saying, 'He tried to kiss me with his mouth open.
I kept my mouth shut.
I did not know what he was doing.
I was scared.' The victim further revealed that Cooper, whom she described as a 'monster,' raped her for the first time a week after the initial incident.
Over the following years, she endured a series of increasingly invasive and abusive acts, including inappropriate touching, rape, and being made to perform sexual acts on him.
As she grew older, she began to understand that what was happening was wrong and eventually found the strength to stand up to him.
The police were eventually involved after the victim confided in a psychiatrist in 2005 about her abuse.
However, she initially refused to provide a formal statement, fearing the trauma of a court case.
It was only after further allegations emerged from three other girls in September of the previous year that authorities re-engaged with her.
This led to Cooper’s arrest and subsequent trial.
During the trial, Cooper appeared in court to give evidence, where he broke down in tears, vehemently denying the charges.
He insisted that he would 'never touch a child,' attempting to deny the allegations against him.
Despite his emotional response, the jury took nearly 13 hours to deliberate before reaching their verdict.
Ultimately, Cooper was found guilty of five charges by a majority verdict of 10 to 2.
In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.
The case has left a lasting impact on the Leicester community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.
