September 2002 CAGED FOR DECADE OF SEX ABUSE A PAEDOPHILE who subjected one of his victims to a decade of sexual abuse was jailed for six years yesterday. Evil Edward Cooper, 51, subjected the girl to sick sex acts from the age of six, as well as slapping and kicking her. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how he also exposed himself to and abused another six-year-old girl. The court was told Cooper, of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, posed a high risk of re-offending. Lord Drummond Young said of Cooper’s victim: “It was quite clear from the way she behaved in the witness box that it had a devastating effect on her and her life Cooper was convicted after an earlier trial of three sexual offences and assault. He targeted his first victim from 1974 at Dean Country Park, houses in Kilmarnock and an Ayrshire hospital, and the second in 1980. Lord Young also imposed a four-year licence period to follow Cooper’s jail term under strict release conditions. He added: “I am concerned to ensure the public – that is other children – are protected from harm from you when you are released.””