Endon Paedophile Peter Cooke, 66, of Endon, has been sentenced to imprisonment at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Pensioner Peter Cooke has been incarcerated after downloading numerous abhorrent photos depicting the abuse of children. The 66-year-old registered sex offender was sentenced in 2009 for attempting to facilitate a child sex offence and for four counts of producing indecent photos of minors.
He received a nine-year enhanced sentence. One year later, he was incarcerated for an additional 12 months, with a one-year probation, for conspiring to defraud the revenue. Consequently, he stayed on licence until 2020.
However, within weeks after the expiration of his license period, the defendant downloaded child sexual assault images. Some showcased youngsters as young as three years old.
Officers confiscated his laptop but returned to his residence three months later and discovered another laptop that held additional lewd photographs. Peter Cooke has been sentenced to 10 months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Antony Longworth stated that police visited the defendant’s residence on August 20, 2020, when he exhibited signs of anxiety. His gadgets were scrutinised, revealing the presence of ‘ccleaner’—software that eliminates internet usage traces—and the TOR browser, which accesses the hidden web. The laptop had 23 category A photographs, 21 category B images, and 126 category C images.
Mr. Longworth stated, “The defendant, Peter Cooke, acknowledged that he had been accessing and viewing indecent images for the preceding two months.” All the photographs were unattainable. They were observed, however efforts were undertaken to eliminate them.
On November 12, 2020, law enforcement returned to the defendant’s residence and confiscated a more laptop. Mr. Longworth stated: “The officer was able to ascertain that the TOR browser had been removed from it.” It was dispatched for examination and was determined to contain 10 category C photos.
The defendant acknowledged his access to the illicit photos. He stated that he examined the photographs at periods of stress. He asserted that he did not derive sexual enjoyment from viewing the photographs but rather disappointment in himself for having looked at them. He stated that he purchased the second laptop subsequent to the seizure of the first by the police.
Peter Cooke, residing on Spinney Close in Endon, admitted guilt to four counts of producing obscene pictures of a minor.
Paul Kay, in mitigation, stated that the defendant suffers from medical issues, including colon cancer, a liver tumour, and is undergoing investigation for bowel cancer.
He stated that Cooke entered a guilty plea at the earliest chance. Mr. Kay stated, “He is profoundly ashamed of his actions.” He would collaborate with any measures the probation agency may implement to support him, anything that could maintain his freedom to receive cancer treatment.
However, Judge Sally Hancox stated that the penalty must entail immediate incarceration. She stated: “He was merely weeks from the conclusion of his licence period.” Following the seizure of a device from his residence, photos depicting the sexual abuse of minors were discovered, and he possessed programs that facilitated access to and concealment of such images. Upon the discovery of an additional device by the authorities, he persisted in his previous conduct. In 2009, he was informed of the repercussions of any violation or disobedience of regulations.
The court informed Peter Cooke: “It is evident that you regret your actions.” However, you still assert that you derive no sexual enjoyment from viewing the photographs. What prompted your visit to them? What prompted you to approach them once more?
Peter Cooke was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a duration of 10 years and is permanently registered as a sex offender.
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