GARY COOPER FROM HERTFORD JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN IN WINCHESTER AND ST ALBANS

In a series of disturbing criminal cases, Gary Cooper, a 47-year-old man from Hertford, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple serious sexual offences involving minors. His crimes span several years and locations, including Hertford, Winchester, and St Albans, highlighting the alarming ease with which online grooming and physical abuse can occur.

In October 2018, Cooper, who now identifies as a woman and is known as Carrie Cooper, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of nine counts of sexual assault against a young girl under the age of 13. The court proceedings revealed that Cooper had sexually abused the victim multiple times at an address in Hertford between 2007 and 2011, during which the girl was between the ages of seven and eleven. The victim, now 18, disclosed the abuse during a conversation with a friend when she was 16, revealing that she had kept her suffering secret because Cooper had instructed her to do so. The court also heard that in 2012, Cooper had previously been sentenced to 14 years and four months in prison at Winchester Crown Court for raping a girl under 14.

During police interviews in September 2016, Cooper denied the allegations but later pleaded not guilty to nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and eight counts of assault by penetration. Ultimately, Cooper was acquitted of all eight penetration charges, but the conviction for the sexual assault counts stood. The sentencing followed a detailed trial that uncovered the extent of Cooper’s predatory behavior.

Earlier, in November 2012, Cooper was also convicted of a separate heinous crime involving a 12-year-old girl. He had contacted her five days prior through an online chat room, where he groomed her by pretending to be a teenage girl. The police investigation uncovered that Cooper had used social media to manipulate and sexually assault the young girl. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the sexual assault of the 12-year-old and another girl, as well as the creation and distribution of indecent photographs of children.

Detective Inspector Dave Storey from Hampshire Constabulary’s Major Investigation team commented on the case, emphasizing the dangers posed by online predators. He explained that Cooper had fabricated a profile claiming to be a 15-year-old girl, which he used to communicate with and eventually meet the 12-year-old victim. The incident culminated in Cooper taking the girl from Hampshire, through Essex, to Hertfordshire, where he raped her on the evening of July 15, 2011. The police initially responded to reports of a child abduction, mobilizing multiple forces to locate her. She was found the following morning, but by then, she had already been subjected to a severe sexual assault.

The investigation also revealed Cooper’s involvement with another vulnerable 15-year-old girl, with whom he engaged in sexual activity. He was convicted of multiple offences, including sexual activity with a minor and the making of indecent photographs. His actions underscore the significant risks posed by online grooming and the importance of vigilance among parents and guardians to protect children from such predators. Cooper’s criminal record and recent convictions serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by individuals who exploit digital platforms to prey on minors.