Man jailed for rape and indecent assault of two girls in the 1970s and 80s

An 82-year-old man has been found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting two girls in the 1970s and 80s.

Following a week-long trial at York Crown Court, Kenneth Cooper of Chapel Meadows, Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire was today sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

The first victim bravely came forward in 2017 to report the abuse Cooper had subjected her to over a period of years in the 1970s.

An investigation was immediately launched by North Yorkshire Police’s Criminal Investigation Department. As specialist detectives made their enquiries, a second victim was discovered who disclosed that Cooper had also abused her throughout the 1980s.

When questioned, Cooper denied the abuse against the second victim, but stated he had been involved in a consensual sexual relationship with the first victim which began on her sixteenth birthday.

Cooper was subsequently charged with six counts of raping a girl under 16 and three charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14. A jury found him guilty of all charges. 

Speaking after sentencing, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Hannah Davies said: “I commend both victims for their bravery in coming forward and making a report to police and reliving a truly horrendous period in their lives.

“The abuse that Cooper subjected them to when they were young girls is truly sickening and has left both of them with trauma and pain that they are still dealing with to this day. The fact that Cooper denied the abuse he committed against one victim and claimed the abuse he subjected the other victim to was a consensual relationship, meaning both women had to undergo a week-long Crown Court trial, just shows the depths abusers will go to to try and get away with their depraved behaviour.

“The sentence handed to Cooper will never bring back the childhoods that he stole from these women. However, I hope it provides some sense of justice being delivered and closure, so they can both move on to happier times.”

Detective Sergeant Davies also extended her thanks to a number of other agencies who had been involved in the lengthy and detailed investigation.

She said: “Due to the fact that Cooper’s crimes extended over two decades, a number of agencies have played a key role in bringing about this outcome. I thank them all for their diligence, hard work and persistence that has resulted in putting Cooper where he deserves to be, behind bars.”

Seeking further support, advice and ways of reporting child abuse

• Please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response
• Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police and are not in immediate danger, can contact Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email [email protected] or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org/
• You can also contact Supporting Victims direct at supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100
• NSPCC Helplines: * Help for adults concerned about a child – call 0808 800 5000 * Help for children and young people – call Childline on 0800 1111 * Go to www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse