JESSE COOKSON FROM SWINDON ESCAPES PRISON AFTER SERIOUS SEX OFFENCES AND ASSAULTS

A man from Swindon has narrowly avoided imprisonment after being convicted of multiple serious offences, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor and possessing a weapon in a public place. Jesse Cookson, who resides on The Crescent in Chiseldon, appeared before Swindon Magistrates Court on Thursday, February 5, where he pleaded guilty to several charges but received a sentence that included a suspended term.

Cookson was found guilty of attempting to communicate sexually with a child and trying to induce a minor to view explicit images. The court also convicted him of assault by beating an unidentified individual and possession of a knife in a public setting. Although he admitted to assault on December 19, he initially denied possessing the offensive weapon on August 28 but was ultimately found guilty of that charge as well.

The court heard that between July 23 and July 27, 2024, Cookson attempted to initiate a sexual conversation with what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutor Mr. Keith Ballinger explained that Cookson had followed and messaged a social media profile he thought belonged to a teenage girl. However, the account was a decoy created by the child protection group Dank Dragons, designed to catch predators. After initial contact, the account responded that it was 14 years old and reiterated this age multiple times, but in reality, it was operated by an adult.

Mr. Ballinger detailed that Cookson continued communication over five days, asking questions about the girl’s personal life, such as whether she had a boyfriend or had lost her virginity. The most disturbing part of his conduct was when Cookson sent a video of himself lying on a bed with his genitals exposed, along with a still image of a woman masturbating, on July 26. Despite no further contact after July 27, members of Dank Dragons tracked down Cookson’s address and alerted the police, leading to his arrest.

In a separate incident on June 3, 2024, Cookson was detained following reports of an assault on an unidentified woman on Buckingham Road. Although he was not present when police arrived and the victim was not located or identified, CCTV footage from a nearby residence showed Cookson grabbing and throwing the woman to the ground. The footage also captured him returning and headbutting her after she had walked away. Police later found Cookson in a woodland area and arrested him. During the arrest, he informed officers that he had a knife in his belongings, which was recovered from the leg of his joggers.

During the court hearing, Cookson’s defense lawyer, Ms. Emma Hillier, explained that her client was homeless at the time and argued that the possession of the knife was due to his circumstances. She entered a plea of not guilty on the grounds of reasonable excuse but accepted the court’s judgment. Ms. Hillier requested that the court impose a suspended sentence, noting that Cookson had been working with an offender manager and appeared to be making efforts to turn his life around.

Ultimately, Cookson was sentenced to six months in prison for each of the two sexual offences, to be served concurrently. Additionally, he received a three-month sentence for the assault and a two-month sentence for the possession of the knife, both to be served concurrently. The total sentence was suspended for 18 months, during which Cookson must complete 26 accredited offending behavior programs and spend 25 days in rehabilitation with the probation service. Furthermore, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the next seven years. The court also ordered him to pay £300 in prosecution costs and a surcharge of £154.