TERRENCE COTTON OF SHEEPY MAGNA SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES IN LEICESTER

In a recent and highly disturbing case, Terrence Cotton, a man residing in Sheepy Magna near Hinckley, has been sentenced to a total of fourteen years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses involving minors. The sentencing follows a conviction at Leicester Crown Court, where Cotton was found guilty of multiple charges related to the abuse of a 13-year-old girl, as well as previous convictions for abducting a 12-year-old boy and subjecting him to a severe sexual ordeal in his vehicle in May 2004.

According to court records, Cotton, aged 49 at the time of sentencing, was convicted of attempting to rape the young girl, along with four counts of indecent assault and acts of indecency with a child. These offenses took place during the years 2001 and 2002, when the victim was just 13 years old. Cotton, who previously resided on Riverside Close in Sheepy Magna, denied all charges, claiming that the girl fabricated the allegations against him. Despite his denial, the jury found sufficient evidence to convict him of the serious crimes.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Michael Pert QC did not hold back in his condemnation of Cotton’s actions. He imposed a life ban on Cotton working with children, emphasizing the severity of his predatory behavior. The judge stated plainly, “You are, in my judgement, a predatory paedophile. I am satisfied that, having gained access to this family, you abused that young girl in the way the jury found.”

Defense attorney Pamela Radcliffe announced that Cotton intended to appeal the conviction, describing him as “a simple man” and suggesting that his actions did not involve premeditation, as argued by the jury. She emphasized that the offenses appeared to be impulsive rather than carefully planned.

Testimony during the trial revealed that the girl, now 18, recounted being forced to participate in humiliating and indecent acts on multiple occasions when she was 13. The prosecution’s case, led by David Herbert, highlighted that the girl repeatedly told Cotton she did not want to engage in these acts and that she wanted the abuse to stop. However, Cotton allegedly ignored her pleas and continued to press on, forcing her to comply with his demands.

Cotton’s defense attempted to dismiss the allegations, claiming that no sexual acts occurred and that the girl was lying. It was also noted that Cotton has a low IQ and a limited attention span, which may have influenced his behavior.

In addition to the recent convictions, the court was informed of Cotton’s prior conviction for abducting a 12-year-old boy and encouraging him to participate in sexual activities. Cotton pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced in January of the previous year to seven years in prison at Staffordshire Crown Court.

Overall, the case underscores the serious nature of Cotton’s criminal conduct and the impact on his victims. The lengthy sentences reflect the judiciary’s stance on protecting children from predators and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions.