NEIL COCKLE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE SENTENCED FOR OFFENSE INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In November 2010, a court case revealed that Neil Cockle, a 36-year-old man from Damery Lane, Woodford near Berkeley, sought to engage in inappropriate contact with a 14-year-old girl. A Gloucester Crown Court hearing detailed how Cockle, who is married with children, asked the young girl for a kiss and exhibited persistent behavior during a weekend stay at his house.

The court heard that Cockle had pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 16 to partake in sexual activity, specifically a kiss, between August 29 and September 1 of the previous year. The incident took place when the girl was staying as a guest at Cockle’s property over the August bank holiday weekend.

Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall explained that prior to that weekend, Cockle had been messaging the girl and appeared to be seeking "some sort of inappropriate relationship with her," adding, "We say there was a clear sexual intent on his part."

She described the events of the night: "When everyone in Cockle’s house had gone to bed, the girl went to fetch a glass of water. He approached her and asked for a kiss and grabbed her arm. He was persistent and wouldn’t let go. He kept holding her, saying ‘Please, I want to see how it feels’. He was looking down at her while she felt really belittled. He kept saying ‘please, please…’. She didn’t want to. Although he did not pursue it further, she was clearly highly distressed afterward."

The girl later confided in her mother about the incident, leading to police involvement. During his arrest, Cockle denied having any sexual feelings towards the girl and claimed the incident was just a gesture of wanting to say goodnight.

Defence lawyer Brendon Moorhouse stated that Cockle, who is married with children, had been a law-abiding and diligent individual throughout his life. He explained that at the time of the incident, Cockle was under significant domestic stress and previously struggled with a gambling addiction, which had led him to contemplate suicide.

Judge William Hart ordered Cockle to register as a sex offender for five years and issued a sexual offences prevention order that prohibits him from contacting the girl for the same period.