ENDON PENSIONER PETER COOKE JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against child exploitation, Peter Cooke, a 66-year-old resident of Endon, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of possessing and viewing numerous indecent images of children. This case highlights a disturbing pattern of offending that spans over a decade, with Cooke’s criminal history dating back to his first conviction in 2009.

Cooke’s initial conviction in 2009 involved serious charges, including attempting to facilitate a child sex offence and making indecent images of children. He was subsequently sentenced to a nine-year extended term. The following year, he received an additional 12 months in prison for attempting to defraud the revenue, which resulted in him remaining on licence until 2020. Despite this, shortly after his licence expired, Cooke resumed his illicit activities by downloading disturbing images depicting children as young as three years old.

Authorities first seized his laptop in August 2020, but it was only three months later that they returned to his residence and discovered another laptop containing more indecent images. The police investigation revealed that Cooke had been actively accessing and viewing these images, which included some classified as Category A, the most severe level of child abuse material, along with numerous Category B images and a significant number of other indecent images.

On August 20, 2020, police officers visited Cooke’s home on Spinney Close in Endon. During this visit, they observed that he appeared anxious. A forensic examination of his devices uncovered the presence of 'ccleaner' software, which is used to erase internet activity, and the TOR browser, which facilitates access to the dark web. The first laptop contained 23 Category A images, 21 Category B images, and 126 other indecent images. When officers returned on November 12, 2020, they seized another laptop, which had been cleaned of the TOR browser but was later found to contain additional illegal images upon examination.

Cooke admitted to accessing the indecent images, claiming that he viewed them during periods of stress. He insisted that he did not derive sexual gratification from the images but expressed remorse for his actions. He explained that he purchased the second laptop after the first was seized by police, attempting to conceal his activities.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Cooke pleaded guilty to four charges of making indecent images of a child. The court heard that he had previously been warned about the consequences of breaching regulations and acting in defiance of court orders. Judge Sally Hancox emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating that immediate custody was necessary. She pointed out that Cooke was only weeks away from the end of his licence period when the new offences were discovered. The judge also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which restricts his activities and access to certain materials, and confirmed that he will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Prosecutor Antony Longworth highlighted the disturbing nature of the evidence, noting that the police found images of children being sexually abused on devices seized from Cooke’s home. The court was told that Cooke’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law, especially considering his previous convictions and the warnings he had received. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and enforcement in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, and serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by individuals with a history of offending in communities like Endon and beyond.