AARON COOPER'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN EXETER: BABY ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SHOCK COMMUNITY
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the city of Exeter, Aaron Cooper, a 28-year-old man, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving the abuse of a young child and the possession of indecent images.The incidents came to light after police investigations uncovered chilling evidence of Cooper’s involvement in child exploitation.
In October 2016, Cooper was found to have filmed a disturbing video clip lasting one minute and 41 seconds, which depicted him touching an 18-month-old baby.
The footage was recorded on his mobile phone, with Cooper holding the device in his right hand while using his left hand to touch the child.
Although Cooper deleted the images from his device, forensic experts later recovered the material during a police raid on his residence.
The raid was part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of downloading inappropriate and illegal material from the internet.
Authorities identified Cooper as the individual responsible for the abuse after analyzing the background of the video.
They compared the furnishings visible in the clip with those in Cooper’s bedroom, located at his home on De La Rue Way in Exeter.
To confirm his involvement, police enlisted the expertise of a forensic anatomy professor, who examined the hand in the video and matched it to Cooper’s.
Further investigation traced the child’s mother, who confirmed the identity of the young girl in the footage.
It is believed that the child was asleep at the time of the recording, and authorities hope she will remain unaware of the traumatic events she was subjected to.
During police interviews, Cooper attempted to justify his actions by blaming his addiction to a specific type of Japanese animated child pornography known as Hentai.
In a text message to a friend, he admitted, “cartoon porn messed so much with my head, I thought it was okay.” This addiction appeared to have played a significant role in his offending behavior.
Cooper, who works at a supermarket, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault of a child and making an indecent image.
At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Erik Salomonsen sentenced him to six years and eight months in prison.
The judge addressed Cooper directly, stating, “You believe your mind became altered by your obsession with pornography.
You subjected this child to a serious sexual assault and photographed what you were doing on a mobile phone.
I accept that immediately afterwards you realized the horror of what you had done and deleted the images, but because of your obsession with pornography, your address was searched by the police and the phone was seized.
I bear in mind this was an isolated incident and you are a man of previously good character.” Prosecutor Mr.
Joss Ticehurst explained that Cooper’s home was initially searched in May 2015, but the incriminating images were not recovered until nearly a year later due to delays in forensic analysis.
Cooper maintained a no-comment stance during police interviews, prompting officers to focus on identifying the child and establishing that the video was shot at his residence, with his hand visible in the footage.
The forensic comparison of the hand and the furnishings in his home confirmed his involvement.
Following his arrest, Cooper sent text messages in which he attributed his behavior to his addiction to Hentai child pornography, claiming it had “crept up on him.” His defense lawyer, Miss Judith Cornwall, expressed that Cooper was deeply horrified and ashamed of his actions.
She stated, “He was using pornography and had access to Hentai cartoons showing sexual images of children.
He does recognize something impacted on his functioning.
He acknowledges he needs help.
The child suffered no physical harm, and it is hoped she will never be told what happened.
The defendant says she was asleep at the time.” In a separate case in July 2016, Cooper admitted to sexually abusing a two-year-old girl after police discovered incriminating footage on his phone.
He was remanded in custody and warned that he faced a lengthy jail sentence.
During his court appearance before Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court, Cooper pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and making an indecent movie of a child.
Prosecutor Mr.
Joss Ticehurst requested an adjournment to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to consider additional charges related to other images found on Cooper’s computer, following a detailed investigation involving specialist analysis of deleted data from his mobile device’s memory card.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, stating, “This is a very serious offence.
I am adjourning sentence.
You will be remanded in custody.”
