PHILIP COOK FROM RUNCORN SENTENCED FOR HISTORICAL CHILD SEX ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL
A 51-year-old man from Runcorn, Philip Cook of Davenport Row, Halton Lodge, has been sentenced after being convicted of multiple historical child sex abuse offenses dating back to the late 1980s.Jurors found Cook guilty on August 26 of nine counts of indecent assault of a child.
The charges involved escalating acts of abuse from touching to what was described by the prosecutor, barrister Cheryl Mottram, as activities akin to rape.
During the sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, Ms.
Mottram detailed the horrific abuse inflicted upon a young boy under 12, which included sexual acts and simulated intercourse.
The abuse occurred in Liverpool during the late 1980s when Cook was a teenage boy.
The case was uncovered after Cook’s victim, now an adult, began confiding in close friends, leading to counselling and the involvement of Merseyside Police.
The survivor, who read a powerful impact statement, stated: "I never wanted to believe that you were that word - a paedophile, because that meant I was abused and you were my abuser.
You were someone I liked, I trusted and wanted to spend time with and play the game.
I was too young to realise I was being groomed, too young to know you were taking advantage of me.
You were old enough to know what you were doing was wrong and you shouldn't have been doing it.
You were not my friend who was playing a game." He spoke of how the abuse had devastated his life and took years for him to understand it was not his fault, adding that he prayed for his abuser and hopes to forgive him one day.
Defence lawyer Jo Maxwell highlighted Cook’s prior good character, noting he had no convictions before or since the offenses.
She explained that Cook, who spent the last decade running a reputable animal rescue service mainly for cats had faced a difficult upbringing, including an unstable childhood, traumatic years in hostels after leaving home, and health issues that hindered his ability to work full-time after the age of 30.
Cook, who appeared in court using a stick for support due to injuries from a serious road traffic collision in 1988, was sentenced by Judge David Potter to nine years in prison with an additional year on extended license.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.
Judge Potter remarked that, while he did not consider Cook to be a dangerous offender and assessed his future risk as at most medium, he found the crimes serious.
The judge described how Cook had committed sexual offenses under the guise of a game, which he classified as grooming.
Addressing Cook’s denials during police interviews, the judge said: "When interviewed by the police, you consistently denied and maintained that denial that you had done nothing wrong towards (the victim).
The jury was satisfied that you were not telling the truth and convicted you on all of the counts on the indictment."
