RAYMOND COPPING JAILED FOR 16 YEARS AFTER ADMITTING CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A paedophile who left his victims in fear and shame of revealing their ordeals has been jailed for 16 years.Raymond Copping’s deviant behaviour remained undetected for decades, having cruelly told one child they would be hated and disbelieved by their own family if they dared to speak of the horror he had subjected them to.
The 62-year-old’s depravity even continued after he had broken down in tears and claimed to be sorry.
But Maidstone Crown Court heard that it was the bravery of one victim in reporting Copping to police that finally inspired the second to come forward.
Now, the pervert, who revealed to a psychiatrist he found it “easier” to form relationships with children than adults, has been branded “dangerous” by a judge for conduct which not only had a “profound” impact but was also “driven in part” by his own inadequacies and hang-ups over his stature.
Copping, who is from Fareham in Hampshire but committed some of his crimes in Maidstone, was arrested in 2021 after the allegations relating to multiple child sex offences, some dating back more than 30 years, had been made to the authorities.
Prosecutor Alexa Le Moine told the court the abuse involved grooming behaviour in the shape of buying gifts and treats, and how on one occasion he had taken a child into a tent where he then performed a sex act on himself.
Of his expressed “apology”, she added: “The defendant would cry and say he was sorry but then carry on with his prolific behaviour.” Statements read to the court described the severe and ongoing psychological harm suffered.
One victim wrote: “I’m now absolutely terrified of men if they come close to me....My sense of safety and trust has been deeply damaged.
“I experience ongoing anxiety, fear and hypervigilance.
I struggle with intrusive thoughts, nightmares and difficulty sleeping.
At times I feel emotionally overwhelmed, numb and disconnected with the world around me.
Certain parts of my body became sources of distress and reminders of what happened.
The assault has changed how I move through the world and limited my independence.
Physical closeness and intimacy can be distressing and has caused pain in my personal life.
I want the court to understand the affects of this [offending] are ongoing.
It didn’t just cause immediate harm but has had lasting consequences.
Although Copping gave a “No comment” interview to police, he later pleaded guilty to all 16 charges, a decision which his lawyer, Michael Cogan, said at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday (January 7) took “courage” knowing the substantial punishment he faced and the prospect of “not coming out of prison alive.” He also explained how the defendant had specifically asked him “not to go on” in his mitigation and for the court to impose the “maximum” sentence possible.
Referring to a number of reports prepared for the hearing as well as letters written by Copping, Mr Cogan told the court: “What shines through first of all is his remorse and recognition of the devastating effect of his actions on his victims.
They disclose no self-pity, no excuses have been offered by him.
Repeatedly he asks the court, in effect, to give him the maximum sentence.” In deciding the appropriate punishment, Judge Daniel Stevenson concluded Copping was a dangerous offender in that he represented a significant risk of serious harm to others and for that reason an extended sentence totalling 20 years was necessary to protect the public.
Having explained to the defendant he will have to serve at least two-thirds of the 16-year custodial element before he could be considered for release and, once granted, will have four years added to any licence period, Judge Stevenson said he had taken account of his guilty pleas and genuine remorse, as well as his alcoholism, low self-esteem and the fact he had himself been subjected to abusive relationships.
But he concluded: “The description of you having an emotional attachment to the victims and finding it easier to form relationships with children rather than adults demonstrates hypersexuality and paedophilia.
You were driven to commit sexual offences against children in part because of the inadequacies you felt in adult relationships.”
