JULIAN COPE OF DURSLEY JAILED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON TEENAGE GIRL IN 1999
| Red Rose Database
Dursley Sexual Abuser
In August 2008, Julian Cope, a 45-year-old man from Dursley, was finally brought to justice after a long period of legal proceedings concerning his involvement in a serious criminal act that took place nearly a decade earlier. Cope was convicted of indecently assaulting a vulnerable teenage girl in October 1999, an incident that shocked the local community and highlighted issues of trust and exploitation.
According to court records, the assault occurred when Cope, then 36 years old, entered the girl’s house uninvited. The young girl, who was only 13 at the time, was described as being alone, emotionally vulnerable, and lacking sexual experience. Cope, who now has a four-year-old daughter of his own, had premeditated his actions, as evidenced by the fact that he dressed in a dressing gown before approaching the girl and initiating the assault.
The court heard that Cope targeted the girl deliberately, knowing her age and vulnerability. The attack was characterized as a breach of trust, given that the girl was known to him and was in a situation where she was unable to defend herself effectively. The incident was particularly disturbing because of the context—her difficult relationship with her father and her innocence, which made her an easy target for exploitation.
At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Jamie Tabor sentenced Cope to a year in prison, emphasizing the premeditated nature of his crime. The judge expressed strong disapproval of Cope’s actions, stating, “I am bound to say that in my judgement there are factors in this case that are very unattractive. Firstly, on the evening in question, you quite clearly premeditated what you were going to do. You walked into a house wearing a dressing gown uninvited and began groping a 13-year-old girl who was known to you. It was a breach of trust, and she was a vulnerable girl because of her age, difficult relationship with her father, and her lack of sexual experience. In short, you targeted her, and you will not acknowledge in any shape or form that you have done anything wrong. I have no alternative but to pass a sentence of imprisonment.”
Cope’s criminal record was further established when he was convicted of indecent assault at Gloucester Crown Court on June 6. His defense team, represented by Anna Vigars, argued that Cope has since become a very different person. She highlighted that he has been married for over five years, supported by his wife, and they are raising a young child together. Vigars stated, “We are dealing with a very different person. He has been married for five and a half years and is supported by his wife. She knows all about this, and she has been loyal. But in a community of that size, she is labeled as the wife of a paedophile. That’s the situation, and despite that, the two of them are managing to sustain their marriage.”
As part of his sentence, Cope was banned from working with children for life and has been placed on the sex offender’s register for a period of ten years. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation, even many years after the initial offense. The community in Dursley and the wider region remains affected by the revelations surrounding Cope’s actions, and the legal proceedings serve as a reminder of the long arm of justice in addressing such grave crimes.
According to court records, the assault occurred when Cope, then 36 years old, entered the girl’s house uninvited. The young girl, who was only 13 at the time, was described as being alone, emotionally vulnerable, and lacking sexual experience. Cope, who now has a four-year-old daughter of his own, had premeditated his actions, as evidenced by the fact that he dressed in a dressing gown before approaching the girl and initiating the assault.
The court heard that Cope targeted the girl deliberately, knowing her age and vulnerability. The attack was characterized as a breach of trust, given that the girl was known to him and was in a situation where she was unable to defend herself effectively. The incident was particularly disturbing because of the context—her difficult relationship with her father and her innocence, which made her an easy target for exploitation.
At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Jamie Tabor sentenced Cope to a year in prison, emphasizing the premeditated nature of his crime. The judge expressed strong disapproval of Cope’s actions, stating, “I am bound to say that in my judgement there are factors in this case that are very unattractive. Firstly, on the evening in question, you quite clearly premeditated what you were going to do. You walked into a house wearing a dressing gown uninvited and began groping a 13-year-old girl who was known to you. It was a breach of trust, and she was a vulnerable girl because of her age, difficult relationship with her father, and her lack of sexual experience. In short, you targeted her, and you will not acknowledge in any shape or form that you have done anything wrong. I have no alternative but to pass a sentence of imprisonment.”
Cope’s criminal record was further established when he was convicted of indecent assault at Gloucester Crown Court on June 6. His defense team, represented by Anna Vigars, argued that Cope has since become a very different person. She highlighted that he has been married for over five years, supported by his wife, and they are raising a young child together. Vigars stated, “We are dealing with a very different person. He has been married for five and a half years and is supported by his wife. She knows all about this, and she has been loyal. But in a community of that size, she is labeled as the wife of a paedophile. That’s the situation, and despite that, the two of them are managing to sustain their marriage.”
As part of his sentence, Cope was banned from working with children for life and has been placed on the sex offender’s register for a period of ten years. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation, even many years after the initial offense. The community in Dursley and the wider region remains affected by the revelations surrounding Cope’s actions, and the legal proceedings serve as a reminder of the long arm of justice in addressing such grave crimes.