December 2019: Now released July 2015 Paedophile jailed for sexually abusing girl for over 13-years A woman who was sexually abused between the ages of three and 16 has spoken of her relief at seeing her tormentor jailed decades later. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke after Patrick Cooper was sentenced to nine years in prison. Cooper, (63), of Gaddesby Lane, Rearsby, was convicted by a jury at Leicester Crown Court of 11 offences against the woman over a period of 13 years. His crimes – gross indecency with a child and indecent assault – were committed in Leicester between 1969 and 1982. The woman, now aged 49, has decided to speak in order to encourage others not to suffer in silence. She wanted to reassure victims that police will help them through the process of preparing for court and that crimes are investigated thoroughly and sensitively even if they happened decades ago. She said: “It has been a difficult 19 months from calling the police to seeing him convicted. “Now at least I know he has been held accountable for what he did to me. “I did feel a weight had been lifted when he was found guilty and sent to prison. “I have struggled on and off all my life because of what he did to me. I don’t know why he did these things to me and I never will. “I was just three years old when it started. “It’s always there, it never goes away completely. Would my life have been different if it had never happened? I don’t know. “The past 19 months getting ready to go to court have been very difficult. “But the police have been brilliant all the way through and I would like to thank them for everything they have done for me.” The woman had confided in a number of people over the years but had never taken the step of telling the police, fearing she would not be believed. However, approximately 19 months ago she was sitting up late with a friend talking about him. She said: “My friend said to me ‘you really have to tell the police what he did to you’. “So, I rang the police at stupid o’clock in the morning and didn’t really know what would happen next. “An officer came to see me in the morning and told me what was going to happen and how I would need to make a statement. “I think I was worried I was going to be sort of interrogated by police officers, but it wasn’t like that at all. “They were very helpful and understanding and that really helped me. “I want other victims to know that the police are there for them and will help them all the way.” Cooper was found guilty following a trial at Leicester Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday, July 3. When he is released Cooper will be subject of a sexual harm prevention order which will prohibit him from unsupervised contact with any female under 16 without the permission of her parents or legal guardian who has previously been made aware of his criminal past. He will also be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.