Leamington man believed to be 'ongoing danger to children' gets extended prison sentence

A Leamington man believed to be an 'ongoing danger to children' has been given an extended prison sentence.

After being released from prison on licence, a convicted child rapist appeared to be making good progress while he was under the supervision of the Probation Service.

But far from being a reformed character, Robert Cooper was downloading images and movies of young girls being sexually abused, a judge at Warwick Crown Court has heard.

And Judge Anthony Potter believes Cooper (35) of Windmill Road, Leamington, is an ongoing danger to children - with a risk that, given the opportunity, he will abuse a child again.

Cooper, who had pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children and one of possessing such an image, was given an extended prison sentence.

Under the order he was jailed for two years and three months, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds before the Parole Board will consider his release.

He will only be freed before serving the whole sentence if it is considered safe to do so, and will then be on licence for the rest of the term and for another three years and nine months.

With the barristers appearing over a video conferencing facility, and Cooper via a prison video link, prosecutor Gary Venturi said the police went to Cooper’s home on February 18.

They seized a number of electronic devices, including a mobile phone ‘which was found to contain all the images the court is dealing with.’

The most serious were 333 still images and eight movies classed as being in category A.

There were also 288 stills and two movies in category B and 483 category C stills.

All of those images had been deleted, but there was a further category A movie which was still viewable.

Mr Venturi added that Cooper had previous convictions for nine offences, including an arson in 2004 – but most significantly he was still on licence from a 12-year sentence imposed in 2011 for three offences of raping an 11-year-old girl.

Clare Evans, defending, said: “This is clearly a man who has been released and who has co-operated with all of the courses and appointments he was required to attend.

Mr Cooper found the courses useful, and he did engage.

“But there was the complete social isolation he has suffered since his release in October 2016.”

Miss Evans said Cooper had managed to get a job making food deliveries, ‘but that has been the extent of his interaction with the outside world.’

“This is a man who, some years after being released, was increasingly isolated. He used the internet to try to get some social interaction, and he went down the wrong path.”

And she added: “This is obviously a step back from contact offences, although nonetheless serious. The question is whether Your Honour accepts what probation says, that Mr Cooper is now a dangerous offender.”

Jailing Cooper, Judge Anthony Potter told him: “It is plain that the category A images involved adults engaged in intercourse with pre-pubescent girls, some of them very young.

“Files included ‘girls under six sex,’ and a number of images showed girls in obvious distress. It was obvious you had conducted searches for just such material as was found.

“In 2011, in respect of three offences of rape, you received a lengthy period of custody. It therefore follows you were on licence at the time you committed these offences.

“I have read the pre-sentence report. I note that on the surface it appeared you were co-operating well with the terms of your licence, but it’s equally plain you had not actively sustained such changes.

“I note the assessment of the probation officer that you present a significant risk of causing serious harm to children by committing further offences.

“I am satisfied you do present such a risk... and that there is a very high risk that, given the opportunity, you will sexually abuse a child again.”