OLIVER COOPER SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE IN RAMSGATE

OLIVER COOPER SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR RAPE IN RAMSGATE

A man from Margate, Oliver Cooper, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping a woman on a Ramsgate beach.

The investigation was carried out by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Oliver Cooper, aged 20 and residing on St Michaels Avenue, committed the assault in August 2016.

He was found guilty following a trial held in December 2017.

He was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on February 2.

In addition to his prison term, Cooper will be required to register as a sex offender on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The court was told that Cooper was familiar to his victim, and they had arranged to meet.

However, during their meeting in the early hours of August 7, he assaulted her by grabbing her throat and raping her on the beach.

Detective Constable Tania Pickering of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate commented on the case, saying: "Cooper is a predatory sex offender who has failed to acknowledge the impact his behaviour has had on his victim.

After subjecting her to a harrowing and demeaning ordeal, he then forced her to face the trauma of a criminal trial.

Her courage and bravery have been exemplary, and while the sentence cannot undo the damage Cooper has caused, I hope the victim can find some comfort in knowing that justice has been served."