BRANDON COOPER FROM ECCLES FRAMED SALFORD BODYBUILDER WITH SEXUAL MESSAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Brandon Cooper, a resident of Eccles, was convicted of serious criminal offenses involving the false accusation of sexual misconduct. The incident unfolded in July 2019, when Cooper was implicated in a scheme that falsely accused an innocent bodybuilder, Connor Siddall, of sending inappropriate messages to a young boy. The court proceedings revealed a complex web of deception orchestrated by Cooper, who used social media to carry out his malicious intent.

Brandon Cooper, who was 24 years old at the time of his sentencing, found himself behind bars in Strangeways Prison, where he spent his 24th birthday. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison by Manchester Crown Court. The case drew significant attention due to the nature of the false allegations and the impact on the victim, Mr. Siddall, a young man with a substantial social media following.

According to court reports, Cooper, who reportedly has an 'extremely low IQ,' was driven by jealousy towards Mr. Siddall, who is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. Mr. Siddall, a 19-year-old from Radcliffe, was preparing to enjoy a meal with his grandparents on the night he was unexpectedly detained by police. Instead, he spent three hours being questioned at Bury police station about the false allegations. The court heard that after the incident, Mr. Siddall was warned that 'half of Salford are after him,' highlighting the widespread misinformation and fear caused by Cooper's actions.

Investigations revealed that Cooper had created a fake social media profile using Mr. Siddall’s name and identity. In August of the previous year, under this false persona, Cooper sent an obscene message to a young boy, posing as Mr. Siddall. The boy, upon receiving the message, reported it to his family, prompting police involvement. The following day, law enforcement officials contacted Mr. Siddall, who was then asked to attend Bury police station. During questioning, Mr. Siddall firmly denied any involvement in the message and explained that he had previously encountered issues with fake profiles online.

Authorities traced the origin of the messages through internet records, which led them to Cooper’s residence in Eccles. Armed with a warrant, police officers visited Cooper’s home and discovered that the internet account used to send the messages was registered in his brother’s name. Both Brandon Cooper and his brother were subsequently arrested. During police interviews, Cooper initially denied any knowledge of the messages but later admitted to creating the fake profile. He explained that his motivation was rooted in feelings of jealousy and a desire to 'express his homosexuality' online.

In a victim impact statement, the father of the young boy expressed his outrage and disappointment, describing himself as 'furious' and 'appalled' by the incident. Despite the distress caused, he noted that his son had not suffered any long-term effects from the false allegations. Mr. Siddall himself shared the emotional toll of the ordeal, stating, “Being accused of something you haven’t done was horrible. Especially when you are accused of sexual offences against children.” He detailed his background as a bodybuilder since the age of 13, emphasizing the years he spent building his social media presence. The false accusations resulted in significant financial loss, with Mr. Siddall losing thousands of pounds in social media advertising revenue. Additionally, he expressed concerns about his personal safety, revealing that he has received threats and warnings to 'be careful' because 'half of Salford are after him.'

Psychological assessments presented in court indicated that Cooper is attracted to men but struggles to express his feelings openly in everyday life. Instead, he used the internet as a platform for his expressions. Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of inciting a child under the age of 13 into sexual activity. As part of his sentence, he will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years and will be subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, underscoring the severity of his actions and the court’s response to protect the community from future harm.