MAURICE COOPER FROM WESTBURY SENTENCED FOR ABUSING YOUNG GIRLS IN SWINDON

In a case that has sparked widespread outrage, Maurice Cooper, a 29-year-old man from The Butts in Westbury, was sentenced to a three-year prison term after being convicted of multiple serious crimes involving the sexual abuse and physical assault of young girls. The court proceedings, held at Swindon Crown Court, revealed disturbing details about Cooper's heinous actions and the impact on his victims.

During the hearing, it was disclosed that Cooper had engaged in violent assaults and sexual acts against a girl who was only five years old at the time. The victim, now 11, was subjected to a horrifying ordeal that has left her with lasting emotional scars. Her mother, who has chosen to remain anonymous to protect her child's identity, expressed her profound disappointment and anger over the relatively short sentence handed down. She stated, “It’s just not long enough. Anybody who does that should never be allowed out. Her innocence and her childhood has been taken from her. I want everyone to know what he has done so his life is hell.”

The court also heard that Cooper had a history of violence, having repeatedly beaten another young girl over a span of five years. Prosecutor Michael Butt described how Cooper had taken a disturbing interest in the girl he sexually abused, referring to him as having “made a pet” of her. He explained that Cooper had given her excessive attention, fostering a false sense of affection, and that the girl had expressed her desire to marry him on numerous occasions. Rather than discouraging her feelings, Cooper had encouraged her crush, which added a layer of manipulation to his predatory behavior.

According to Mr. Butt, Cooper began sexually abusing the girl in August 2002, when she was just nine years old. The victim recounted that she would try to escape during these assaults, but Cooper’s anger would manifest in physical violence, including slaps, punches, and kicks. Police interviews with the girl in February revealed her feelings of intense anger and despair, with her describing how the abuse made her feel so upset that she wanted to sleep forever to escape her pain.

Further disturbing details emerged about Cooper’s violent tendencies. He was also found to have assaulted another young girl, with whom he enjoyed playing boxing. The court heard that he had slapped her across the face, spat at her, and physically attacked her by kicking and punching her in the head and back. The second girl, who suffers from asthma, reported that Cooper had also held his hand over her mouth and nose, attempting to suffocate her. Both victims continue to suffer from nightmares related to the abuse, highlighting the long-lasting trauma inflicted upon them.

The case came to light earlier this year when one of the girls reported the abuse to her school. This led to Cooper’s arrest on February 13. He subsequently pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault and five counts of cruelty on September 8, avoiding the need for a lengthy trial and further trauma for the victims.

During the sentencing, Cooper’s defense attorney, Ian Lawrie, acknowledged the severity of the crimes, stating, “The offences are so serious that a period of custody is appropriate,” and suggested that prison time might help his client confront the issues that led to his behavior. He also noted that Cooper’s guilty pleas had spared the girls from the ordeal of cross-examination in court.

Judge McNaught sentenced Cooper to serve three years in prison, with an additional two years of supervised release. The court also ordered that Cooper be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and disqualified him from working with children in the future.

Detective Constable Jason Roberts, who led the investigation, commented on the case, saying, “Serious criminal offences committed against young children carry lengthy terms of imprisonment on conviction. Maurice Cooper is no longer a danger to young children as he will serve a substantial prison sentence along with careful monitoring on his release from custody.”