NICOLA ‘GORDON’ COPE FROM ATHERSTONE JAILED FOR RAPE OF TAMPON GIRLS DURING HIS TIME AS A MAN

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community, Nicola ‘Gordon’ Cope, a man from Atherstone, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault involving young girls from Tamworth. The offences, which spanned over a period of more than a decade, involved systematic grooming and abuse of two young girls, with the crimes taking place between 1987 and 2003, when Cope was living as a man.

Cope, who is now 57 years old and resides at St Marys Courtyard in Atherstone, was found guilty by a jury at Stafford Crown Court of nine counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault. The victims, whose identities remain protected, were subjected to Cope’s predatory behaviour over several years, beginning when one girl was as young as four, five, or six years old, and the other was seven at the time the abuse started. Despite the gravity of the charges, Cope was acquitted of indecently assaulting a third young girl.

The court heard that Cope underwent a gender transition in 2008, changing from male to female. Judge Mark Eades addressed the defendant directly during sentencing, describing the offences as “dreadful” and emphasizing the calculated nature of the grooming process. The judge stated, “You groomed mercilessly in order to commit sexual acts against these girls. It is difficult to imagine a worse case.”

He further explained that Cope had deliberately set out to groom these children to facilitate sexual contact, with the abuse continuing over an extended period. While acknowledging the severity of the crimes, Judge Eades noted that the likelihood of repetition was now eliminated due to the sex change. However, he condemned Cope for never showing remorse or sorrow for the harm caused.

In addition to the prison sentence, Cope was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was permanently barred from working with children. The prosecution, led by Mr. Peter Arnold, highlighted the disturbing timeline of the abuse, revealing that the misconduct began when one of the victims was just four, five, or six years old, and the other was seven.

Mr. Arnold also addressed why the case had only recently come to court, explaining that victims often delay reporting such abuse due to fear, confusion, or threats from the abuser. He pointed out that many victims, influenced by societal pressures and personal trauma, may not disclose their experiences until many years later, sometimes even taking their secrets to the grave.

Throughout the trial, Cope maintained her innocence, denying all allegations of abuse. Her legal representative, Miss Siobhan Collins, stated firmly, “There is no mitigation about these offences,” underscoring the gravity and unambiguous nature of the crimes committed against the young victims.