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 the 35-year-old, 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 of children in naked or indecent poses.
All of those images had been deleted, but there was a further category A movie which was still viewable.
Mr Venturi added 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 Cooper had suffered “complete social isolation” since his release in October 2016.”
She added 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.”
Jailing Cooper, Judge Anthony Potter told him: “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.”
