PAUL COOKE FROM MIRFIELD SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN BRADFORD

In March 2003, a man from Mirfield named Paul Cooke was sentenced to a 12-month jail term after being found guilty of possessing, creating, and distributing indecent images of children. The investigation was part of Operation Magenta, which led to a police raid on Cooke’s residence on Foxroyd Avenue nearly a year prior to his sentencing.

During the raid, officers seized various computer equipment and digital storage devices. A detailed forensic examination of Cooke’s computer revealed the presence of nearly 2,000 illicit images, some depicting girls as young as four years old. The images included both static pictures and video clips, with one particularly disturbing clip showing a man raping a young girl. The court was informed that most of these images were stored on a CD-ROM, and there was also a collection of 13 video clips, further illustrating the severity of the material involved.

Paul Cooke, aged 38 and married, was employed as a production manager at the time. Despite his previously unblemished reputation, he admitted to the offences in court. He explained that he had downloaded the images out of curiosity to see what they contained. The court heard that Cooke had used the online pseudonym 'Ilikeyounggirls' in chatrooms, and he had installed software that allowed other users to access and download the illicit images from his computer.

Prosecutor Richard Clews stated that Cooke had passed on these images to approximately 30 or 40 recipients over a period of six months. Cooke also admitted to police that he had shared the images with others, which contributed to the distribution of this disturbing material. The court was told that Cooke had installed a program enabling others to download the images directly from his computer, thus actively participating in the dissemination of child abuse material.

Judge Peter Benson described the images as “seriously disturbing and revolting,” emphasizing the gravity of the offense. He condemned the act of collecting and actively seeking out such material, noting that it fuels a market that encourages further abuse. The judge pointed out that Cooke’s guilty plea confirmed his involvement in both possessing and distributing the images, with the court estimating that 30 to 40 individuals had benefited from his actions.

In mitigation, defense lawyer Mark Barlow acknowledged that Cooke’s motives appeared to stem from “morbid curiosity,” and there was no evidence of commercial intent behind his actions. Barlow also highlighted that stress at work might have contributed to his behavior, and he stressed that Cooke was prepared to resign from his job following the conviction. The lawyer argued that a non-custodial sentence could serve as a wake-up call for Cooke, helping him understand the seriousness of his actions and the harm caused.

However, Judge Benson expressed strong disapproval of Cooke’s conduct, stating that the images, nearly 2,000 in total, were just short of the most severe category of child exploitation material. The judge expressed concern that Cooke had not addressed the underlying reasons for his offending, which posed a risk to the public. As a result, he extended Cooke’s license supervision period to three years, meaning that Cooke will remain under community monitoring for six months after his release.

Additionally, Cooke is required to register as a sex offender for the next seven years and has been disqualified indefinitely from working with children. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded and highlights the ongoing risks posed by individuals involved in the possession and distribution of child abuse images.