BERNARD COOKE FROM LONDONDERRY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING VULNERABLE 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In June 2016, a man identified as Bernard Cooke was found guilty of serious sexual offences involving a vulnerable 13-year-old girl in Londonderry.The court heard that Cooke, aged 23 at the time, had engaged in grooming behaviors and sexual activity with the young girl while she was residing in a children’s home.
The offences took place in October 2014, a month marked by heightened police vigilance following a Harbourer’s Notice issued to Cooke, warning him explicitly to avoid any contact with the girl, referred to in court documents as "Z".
Following his conviction, Bernard Cooke was sentenced to a two-year prison term at Londonderry’s Crown Court.
The court also imposed strict restrictions on his future interactions with minors.
Cooke was banned from having any unapproved contact with children under the age of 16 unless such contact was unavoidable or incidental.
Additionally, he was prohibited from entering the premises, grounds, or buildings of any residential children’s home within Northern Ireland.
These orders, including a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), are set to remain in effect for a decade, reflecting the seriousness of his offences and the court’s intent to protect the public from potential future harm.
Judge Philip Babington emphasized the importance of the SOPO, stating that it was necessary to safeguard the community from Cooke’s potential for serious sexual misconduct.
The judge noted that Cooke had an extensive criminal record, with 30 previous convictions, including a particularly disturbing one for administering poison to a prison officer.
His arrest occurred late at night on October 8, 2014, when staff at the children’s home alerted police that Cooke was present in the girl’s room.
Upon entering, officers found the girl in bed and Cooke hiding behind a door in an adjoining en-suite area.
Medical examinations and forensic analysis confirmed the presence of Cooke’s semen, and the girl disclosed to medical personnel that she had engaged in sexual intercourse with him on one occasion.
The grooming charges stemmed from text messages Cooke sent to the girl, one of which included her response, “I want to go steady.” Judge Babington remarked that Cooke’s offending had escalated in severity, despite his lack of prior sexual convictions.
He expressed concern over Cooke’s conduct following the issuance of the Harbourer’s Notice, noting that his presence at the children’s home was highly inappropriate and nearly led to further offences.
The judge also highlighted the significant age difference of eight and a half years between Cooke and the victim, raising concerns about the potential harm inflicted, although the girl had not provided a victim impact statement.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Babington made it clear that Cooke was prohibited from any contact or communication with children under 16, except in cases where such contact was unavoidable and not reasonably avoidable, and only with prior approval from designated authorities.
He also ordered that police be allowed unrestricted access to Cooke’s residence to enforce the SOPO.
The court’s decision to impose a 10-year order underscores the gravity of the offences and the ongoing risk Cooke poses to the community in Londonderry.
