GRAHAM COOPER FROM ALDINGTON AND NEW ROMNEY JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE REVEALED DURING OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
| Red Rose Database
New Romney Aldington Rapist
In a case that has shocked the local communities of Aldington and New Romney, Graham Cooper, a 69-year-old retired butcher, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of child sexual abuse offenses that date back over three decades. The conviction followed a series of revelations that emerged when Cooper was chosen to participate as a torchbearer in the 2012 Olympic relay, a role that inadvertently led to his victim recognizing him after many years.
Cooper, who previously owned and operated Cooper and Sons Butchers and Bakers in Aldington for many years, was brought to justice at Canterbury Crown Court. The proceedings revealed that his victim, a woman who had endured abuse in the 1980s, identified him as her attacker when she saw him carrying the Olympic torch during the relay. This recognition prompted her to contact the police, reigniting a case that had previously been dismissed due to the passage of time.
Judge Adele Williams addressed Cooper directly during sentencing, stating, “The victim was quite rightly incensed when she heard you had been chosen to be a torchbearer. Child sex abuse is a considerable evil, and those who engage in it can expect nothing but imprisonment. What you did had long-lasting effects on your victim.” The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order on Cooper and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Details of the case showed that the victim had attempted to bring charges against Cooper several years earlier, but her efforts were thwarted when authorities deemed it too late to question him about the assaults. It was only after her discovery of his selection as a torchbearer that she decided to pursue justice once more. Cooper, who has since moved to Church Road in New Romney, admitted to three of the sexual offenses but attempted to shift some blame onto the young girl, claiming she had initiated the contact.
During the five-day trial, the jury convicted Cooper of a fourth sexual attack but acquitted him of three other charges, including an alleged rape. The victim, who was required to testify and relive her traumatic experiences, broke down in tears while recounting her ordeal. She explained that she sought counseling and hypnotherapy in the years following the abuse to cope with the emotional scars. She also expressed her ongoing fear of encountering Cooper in everyday life, especially in her local area.
Her distress was compounded when she read about Cooper’s nomination to carry the Olympic torch, which she found deeply upsetting. She recounted her feelings: “I was thinking how could this happen? I looked things up on the internet. How could this person be chosen? I read about him and his charity work, singing in a local choir, raising money for local projects. It said he was always cheerful. I read about him over and over again, about him going to church and wondered if he was there to repent or what?”
In his defense, Cooper, a former chairman of the Ashford Photographic Society, expressed remorse, stating, “I feel very sorry. I am shameful. It shouldn’t have happened. I have regretted it for 30 years.” He claimed that during one of the attacks, he had a moment of realization and stopped, describing it as his “wake-up call.” He added, “That was my wake-up moment. I suddenly thought: ‘What are you doing?’ Stop! I suddenly came to my senses and knew it was wrong. I have regretted it ever since. I am truly sorry and ashamed.”
Additional details revealed that Cooper was convicted of two counts of indecent assault on a female under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a female under 14. He was also found guilty of an extra count of indecent assault on the same victim. However, he was acquitted of two other allegations of indecent assault and was found not guilty of raping a girl under 16.
Despite his criminal history, Cooper expressed pride in his role as a torchbearer, saying, “It’s such an honour and a privilege to have been chosen, I’m really looking forward to it. I was brought up to do things to help people—that’s just how it is. I think it’s going to be unbelievable.” His wife, Mrs. Cooper, also defended him, stating, “Throughout my married life, whenever anything’s needed doing for anyone, he’s done it, for their pleasure and benefit. I’m immensely proud of him.”
On July 18, 2012, Cooper participated in the Olympic torch relay, running a 300-meter leg in Aldington, carrying the number 55. He was among 115 torchbearers from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, who took part in the event. Following his conviction, Cooper was released on bail and awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for later this month.
Cooper, who previously owned and operated Cooper and Sons Butchers and Bakers in Aldington for many years, was brought to justice at Canterbury Crown Court. The proceedings revealed that his victim, a woman who had endured abuse in the 1980s, identified him as her attacker when she saw him carrying the Olympic torch during the relay. This recognition prompted her to contact the police, reigniting a case that had previously been dismissed due to the passage of time.
Judge Adele Williams addressed Cooper directly during sentencing, stating, “The victim was quite rightly incensed when she heard you had been chosen to be a torchbearer. Child sex abuse is a considerable evil, and those who engage in it can expect nothing but imprisonment. What you did had long-lasting effects on your victim.” The judge also imposed a sexual offences prevention order on Cooper and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years.
Details of the case showed that the victim had attempted to bring charges against Cooper several years earlier, but her efforts were thwarted when authorities deemed it too late to question him about the assaults. It was only after her discovery of his selection as a torchbearer that she decided to pursue justice once more. Cooper, who has since moved to Church Road in New Romney, admitted to three of the sexual offenses but attempted to shift some blame onto the young girl, claiming she had initiated the contact.
During the five-day trial, the jury convicted Cooper of a fourth sexual attack but acquitted him of three other charges, including an alleged rape. The victim, who was required to testify and relive her traumatic experiences, broke down in tears while recounting her ordeal. She explained that she sought counseling and hypnotherapy in the years following the abuse to cope with the emotional scars. She also expressed her ongoing fear of encountering Cooper in everyday life, especially in her local area.
Her distress was compounded when she read about Cooper’s nomination to carry the Olympic torch, which she found deeply upsetting. She recounted her feelings: “I was thinking how could this happen? I looked things up on the internet. How could this person be chosen? I read about him and his charity work, singing in a local choir, raising money for local projects. It said he was always cheerful. I read about him over and over again, about him going to church and wondered if he was there to repent or what?”
In his defense, Cooper, a former chairman of the Ashford Photographic Society, expressed remorse, stating, “I feel very sorry. I am shameful. It shouldn’t have happened. I have regretted it for 30 years.” He claimed that during one of the attacks, he had a moment of realization and stopped, describing it as his “wake-up call.” He added, “That was my wake-up moment. I suddenly thought: ‘What are you doing?’ Stop! I suddenly came to my senses and knew it was wrong. I have regretted it ever since. I am truly sorry and ashamed.”
Additional details revealed that Cooper was convicted of two counts of indecent assault on a female under 14 and one count of gross indecency with a female under 14. He was also found guilty of an extra count of indecent assault on the same victim. However, he was acquitted of two other allegations of indecent assault and was found not guilty of raping a girl under 16.
Despite his criminal history, Cooper expressed pride in his role as a torchbearer, saying, “It’s such an honour and a privilege to have been chosen, I’m really looking forward to it. I was brought up to do things to help people—that’s just how it is. I think it’s going to be unbelievable.” His wife, Mrs. Cooper, also defended him, stating, “Throughout my married life, whenever anything’s needed doing for anyone, he’s done it, for their pleasure and benefit. I’m immensely proud of him.”
On July 18, 2012, Cooper participated in the Olympic torch relay, running a 300-meter leg in Aldington, carrying the number 55. He was among 115 torchbearers from the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, who took part in the event. Following his conviction, Cooper was released on bail and awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for later this month.