FARMER STEVEN COOPER JAILED FOR A DECADE FOR MULTIPLE RAPES
A farmer who raped a woman multiple times has been jailed for a decade.Steven Cooper appeared before Truro Crown Court today (Friday, December 19) for sentencing after being found guilty by a jury of four counts of raping a woman in south east Cornwall.
The 30-year-old from the Downderry area had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him but a jury convicted him of the offences following a recent trial.
The sentencing hearing was told how Cooper had been a hard-working man of good character before the offences took place.
In mitigation for Cooper, Katie Churcher said the dad-of-one will now miss out on seeing his daughter grow up.
She said he has learning difficulties as a result of which prison will be more challenging.
Ms Churcher said that Cooper had tried to take his own life after the guilty verdict, adding: "He was a man of good character and the impact on him of the guilty verdict has been profound and he has had to grapple with the fact that he faces a lengthy period in custody." "His mental health has declined rapidly since the guilty verdict." His Honour Judge Simon Carr said the rapes had a devastating impact on Cooper's victim.
He said Cooper may have profound cognitive impairment and has recently been diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, but only a custodial sentence is appropriate considering the gravity of the offences.
He sentenced Cooper to 10 years in prison.
He will serve two thirds before being released on licence.
Cooper will also be on the sex offenders' register for life.
