September 2008 Shock for girl’s family as paedophile jailed for raping child A paedophile who raped a young girl in Northampton confessed in a series of letters he had left in his car after deciding to commit suicide. Ian Cook, 45, was jailed for almost seven years at Northampton Crown Court for the horrific rape of a child. But the victim’s family reacted with audible anger when it was revealed he had committed an almost identical attack on a four-year-old girl, when he was aged 14 in 1977. Heidi Kubik, prosecuting, said the attack happened in July last year and Cook told her to keep it a secret. The youngster remained quiet until she returned home and then told her mother. Miss Kubik said: “She went round to the defendant’s house and immediately confronted him about it and it seems the child was unfortunately present. “The defendant immediately denied any wrongdoing but his victim stood her ground and insisted it had happened and became very upset at his denials.” The court heard Cook, now of Cowper Street, The Mounts was arrested and bailed but on August 3, the police were called about fears for his safety. Cook’s car was traced to Nunn Mills Road, off Bedford Road, and an officer saw him walking towards the River Nene. Inside his car were three packets of painkillers, along with a series of suicide letters and confessions apologising “for doing bad things”. Cook initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea moments before his young victim was to give evidence against him. Passing sentence, Judge Thomas Corrie said: “What is now clear, although your previous conviction was over 30 years ago, there’s a pattern which shows you have an unhealthy sexual interest with young girls. “You remain a risk to young girls when a combination of alcohol and your urges coincide.” He was jailed for a total of six years and nine months. Richard Holloway, defending, said: “What is clear from the suicide notes is that he made afull confession effectively to what he had done. “He doesn’t know what went into his head but he was not sexually aroused. What followed was genuine remorse and self-loathing.”