MICHAEL COPELAND AND SHOCKING CHILD SEX ABUSE IN CORNWALL AND SHEFFIELD
A man convicted of serious sexual offenses against a young boy during the 1980s and 1990s has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison.Michael Copeland, aged 74, was found guilty of grooming and abusing a young boy over a period of several years, during which the victim was between the ages of eight and 12.
The victim, who has now reached adulthood, demonstrated remarkable bravery by coming forward to report the abuse in November 2022.
The allegations came to light after a detailed investigation into Copeland’s past actions.
At the time of the offenses, Copeland was residing in Sheffield, but he later moved to Cornwall, specifically to Truro, where he was arrested at his home.
Following a comprehensive investigation, Copeland pleaded guilty to 15 separate charges of non-recent sexual abuse, acknowledging his involvement in the crimes.
The case was brought before Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, 26 September, where the judge handed down a sentence of 16 years and six months behind bars.
In addition to his prison term, Copeland was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for life and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposes strict restrictions to prevent further offenses.
The investigation was led by Detective Wendy Howe, who expressed her thoughts on the case.
She stated, “The victim in this case showed tremendous courage in coming forward to tell us what happened to him when he was a child.
I am pleased Copeland has been handed a significant prison sentence for his vile actions and hope it may help the victim to begin to find closure and move on with the rest of his life.” She further emphasized the importance of reporting historical abuse, saying, “As this case demonstrates, it is never too late to report sexual abuse to us, even if it happened many years ago.
If you have suffered sexual abuse in the past, please tell us.
We will investigate and we will pursue justice on your behalf.”
