GAVIN COOPER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN JAIL FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DUNDEE AND EDINBURGH
A man identified as Gavin Cooper has been sentenced to a five-year imprisonment after a series of heinous sex crimes committed against women in Dundee and Edinburgh.The court heard that Cooper, aged 38, engaged in multiple acts of sexual violence, including repeatedly raping a woman while she was unconscious at a residence in Dundee.
The severity of Cooper's criminal behavior extended beyond this initial assault.
He was also found guilty of committing sexual offences against two other women.
These included touching a sleeping woman inappropriately—specifically on the thigh, breasts, and private areas—inside a hotel in Edinburgh on August 5, 2018.
Additionally, Cooper engaged in the distribution of explicit media, sharing graphic images and videos of a woman to her and another woman in Dundee during January of the previous year.
Part of Cooper's misconduct involved not only sharing such explicit material directly with the victims but also uploading it to an online platform, specifically YouTube, with the malicious intent of causing fear, distress, and alarm.
These actions demonstrated a troubling pattern of dehumanizing conduct towards the women involved.
During the sentencing hearing held at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Norman McFadyen addressed Cooper directly, condemning his actions.
The judge remarked, “Your behaviour is plainly abusive of women and demonstrates in all their cases a callous disregard for their privacy, private space and their bodies.” The judge highlighted that although Cooper was acquitted of some of the most serious charges earlier, he remained convicted of multiple serious offenses involving three separate women.
The rape charge was identified by the judge as the most grave, with the court noting that Cooper had repeatedly assaulted one woman over a period from December 2010 to June 2015.
The judge emphasized that Cooper’s actions reflected a disturbing attitude towards women’s safety and dignity.
Despite Cooper’s denial of the allegations during the trial, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him.
The judge stressed the importance of a custodial sentence to protect society and prevent further harm, and Cooper was placed in Perth prison during the proceedings via a video link.
In addition to the prison term, Judge McFadyen ordered that Cooper serve an extended period of supervision following his release—specifically, three years.
He warned that failure to adhere to the conditions of this supervision could result in his license being revoked and additional penalties being imposed.
The court proceedings revealed that Cooper had initially faced a total of 23 charges but contested the allegations at an earlier trial.
His convictions now include multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and the distribution of explicit material aimed at causing distress.
The court also noted that Cooper is a self-employed electrician with experience working both in the UK and abroad.
At the time of his arrest and trial, he was preparing for a contract in Amsterdam.
His legal representative, Jonathan Crowe, stated that Cooper continues to deny the charges but acknowledged the jury’s verdict.
He added that Cooper had no prior convictions for sexual offenses, and this was his first custodial sentence.
As part of his sentence, Cooper was also informed that he will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and mitigate future risks to the community.
