PAUL COOKE FROM DALKEITH SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR RAPE IN MIDLOTHIAN

In August 2018, a significant case concluded at the High Court in Edinburgh involving the sentencing of Paul Cooke, a 70-year-old man from Dalkeith, who was convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed in the Midlothian area. The court heard that Cooke had been found guilty of repeatedly raping a teenage girl, who was only 16 at the time, along with assaulting two other younger teenagers. The severity of his crimes and the impact on the victims led to a substantial prison sentence.

Paul Cooke’s conviction stemmed from a series of disturbing incidents that took place over a period spanning from January 2016 to March 2017. Despite his initial denial of the charges, the victims courageously provided evidence in court, which ultimately contributed to his conviction. The court was told that Cooke’s actions were not isolated but part of a pattern of predatory behavior that involved grooming and sexual assault.

Lord Boyd, presiding over the case, delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the gravity of Cooke’s offenses. He stated, “She was young enough to be your granddaughter. It appeared to me you became obsessed by her,” highlighting the disturbing nature of the relationship. The judge also pointed out that Cooke had engaged in grooming behaviors, preparing the girl for sexual exploitation.

During the sentencing, Lord Boyd detailed the extent of Cooke’s offending, noting that over a span of 15 months, he had sexually assaulted three teenage girls. The incidents included a sexual assault in a car in Midlothian in 2016, and multiple assaults on a second girl aged 13 and 14, which occurred at various locations, including in a car and a lorry across different parts of Scotland, as well as at a house in Loanhead, Midlothian. The third victim was also subjected to sexual assault in a car, a lorry, and at a house in Dalkeith.

Particularly disturbing were the assaults on the girl in Dalkeith, which took place at her residence between August 2016 and March of the following year. These acts included rape, further underscoring the brutality of Cooke’s actions.

Despite the overwhelming evidence and the seriousness of the crimes, social workers had initially suggested that Cooke be given a community payback order instead of a custodial sentence. However, Lord Boyd dismissed this recommendation as “remarkable” and made it clear that a non-custodial sentence for such serious sexual offenses was “NOT a serious option.” Ultimately, Cooke was sentenced to six years in prison and was also ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the court’s recognition of the gravity of his crimes and the need for public protection.