ROTHERHAM OFFICER DANIEL COOKSON SENTENCED FOR GROOMING TEENAGE GIRL IN WORKSOP AND ROTHERHAM

A police officer from South Yorkshire has been handed an 18-month prison sentence after being found guilty of grooming a 15-year-old girl. PC Daniel Cookson, aged 30, was convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of coercing the young teenager into sending explicit images of herself. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of inappropriate conduct that developed shortly after the victim's fifteenth birthday, highlighting the dangers of digital communication between authority figures and minors.

Cookson, who was stationed in Rotherham, engaged in a close and troubling electronic relationship with the girl from Worksop. The court heard that the communication quickly took a sexual turn, with the officer exchanging increasingly explicit messages. The jury convicted him of causing a child to engage in sexual activity within just over two hours of the initial contact. Despite his denial, claiming that the girl was lying, evidence from text messages painted a different picture. These exchanges included threats and allegations of blackmail, with Cookson allegedly warning the girl that he would cease contact unless she sent nude photographs of herself.

Following his arrest in August of the previous year, Cookson was suspended from his duties as a police officer. The force has announced that a misconduct investigation will be conducted to determine further disciplinary actions. In addition to his prison sentence, Cookson was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, aimed at preventing any future contact or harm to minors. The case underscores the ongoing concerns about misconduct within law enforcement ranks and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable young people from exploitation by those in positions of authority.