TEACHING ASSISTANT JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A 38-year-old teaching assistant from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, has been sentenced to prison for grooming and sexually abusing a young boy.The sentence, four and a half years, was handed down by Manchester Street Crown Court after Cook pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences involving the young victim.
Authorities found messages on her device that involved sexual communication and also discovered indecent images of the boy stored on her phone.
Greater Manchester Police Det Sgt Adam Stanfield highlighted the severity of this case, calling it a clear example of abuse of power, where the perpetrator targeted a vulnerable child who had placed her trust in him.
The investigation into Cook's conduct was launched in September 2025 when a report was made by a member of the public who observed her with a young boy in public.
Further inquiries revealed that Cook had been grooming and manipulating the child over time to engage in a sexual relationship.
She was also found to have been buying her young victim expensive items, including jewelry and clothes, continuously over a span of more than nine months, in addition to possessing indecent images and encouraging inappropriate communications.