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Convicted sex offender sentenced to 18 years for sexual abuse of boys
Summary
Kenneth Cooke, aged 53, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to a total of 18 years in prison for sexually abusing two boys. The first abuse began in 1980 when the victim was nine, involving molestation and anally raping the boy, which caused a severe stammer that took 20 years to overcome. Cooke received a nine‑year term with four years suspended for this period. The second abuse occurred between 2000 and 2003, when the victim was aged 11 to 13; Cooke was given an eleven‑year term with two years suspended. Both sentences run consecutively to his existing nine‑year sentence for a 2014 conviction of sexual abuse of a female victim. The judge noted the extreme seriousness of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims, who suffered nightmares, physical and emotional trauma, and a lifelong sense of shame and loss. The court upheld the severity of the sentence on appeal. Kenneth Cooke pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted sex offender sentenced to 18 years for sexual abuse of boys. Charges or matters: 21 counts of sexually assaulting a boy between January 2000 and July 2003 when the boy was aged between 11 and 13 years of age; 56 counts of indecent assault of another boy between December 1980 and December 1985 and was convicted by a jury. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- January 2000 Incident
- July 2003 Incident
- December 1980 Incident
- December 1985 Incident
- July 2014 Incident
- 2016-11-02 Publication
Why: Judge Ryan took the unusual move of imposing consecutive terms because of the "very, very, very serious" nature of the offending. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: 21 counts of sexually assaulting a boy between January 2000 and July 2003 when the boy was aged between 11 and 13 years of age; 56 counts of indecent assault of another boy between December 1980 and December 1985 and was convicted by a jury (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Cooke is already serving a nine year sentence imposed in 2014 for the sexual abuse of a female victim 20 years ago. Today Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a nine year sentence with four suspended for abuse of the first boy which began in 1980.
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