PETER COOKE AND HIS SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES IN STOKE-ON-TRENT
Peter Cooke, a 66-year-old resident of Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images depicting children being sexually abused.Cooke, a registered sex offender, whose criminal history dates back to 2009, was convicted of attempting to facilitate a child sex offence and for making multiple indecent images of children.
His original conviction led to a nine-year extended sentence, and a year later, he was additionally sentenced to 12 months in prison and placed on a one-year licence for attempting to defraud the revenue.
Despite serving the sentence and being on licence, Cooke violated the terms just weeks after his licence expired.
He downloaded further illicit images, some of which depicted children as young as three years old.
Law enforcement officers seized his devices, initially taking his laptop for examination, and then returned to his home three months later, where they discovered another laptop containing more indecent images.
This evidence showed a clear pattern of ongoing offending even after previous convictions.
In August 2020, police responded to reports at Cooke’s home in Endon, Stoke-on-Trent.
When officers arrived, Cooke appeared noticeably anxious.
Upon inspecting his devices, they uncovered software such as 'ccleaner', which is often used to erase internet activity, along with the TOR browser, a tool used to access the dark web.
His laptop was found to contain 23 images classified as Category A—the most serious level—along with 21 Category B images and 126 Category C images.
Prosecutor Antony Longworth explained that Cooke admitted to accessing and viewing these indecent images over the previous two months, though he claimed that the images were inaccessible and that he had attempted to delete them.
Further investigations led officers back to his residence in November 2020, where they seized another laptop.
The examination revealed that the TOR browser had been deleted on this second device.
Once analyzed, it was found to contain 10 images categorized as Category C.
Cooke also admitted to viewing the images, stating that he did so when feeling stressed.
He claimed that he did not derive sexual pleasure from viewing the images but was disappointed with himself for having looked at them.
He explained that he purchased the second laptop after police seized the first.
Cooke, from Spinney Close in Endon, pleaded guilty to four charges of making indecent images of a child.
During proceedings, mitigation was presented by Paul Kay, who highlighted Cooke’s medical issues, including colon cancer, a tumour on his liver, and ongoing investigations for bowel cancer.
Mr.
Kay emphasized that Cooke had shown remorse and cooperated with authorities, expressing hope that he could remain free to undergo treatment.
Despite these pleas, Judge Sally Hancox emphasized that immediate custodial sentencing was appropriate.
She pointed out that Cooke was only weeks away from the end of his previous licence when officers discovered new evidence.
His possession of devices with hidden or erased images, along with his continued access to illegal content, underscored the severity of his breaches.
The judge questioned why Cooke, despite being warned in 2009 about the consequences of breaching regulations, continued to offend.
As part of his punishment, Cooke was subjected to a Ten-Year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which restricts his access to certain online activities and requires ongoing supervision.
Furthermore, he was ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for life, reflecting the seriousness of his misconduct and the potential risk he poses.
