August 2016

Child rapist jailed 

Child rapist Michael Cook has been jailed for nine years after being convicted of abusing a schoolgirl.

The 37-year-old groomed the youngster before he sexually abused and raped her.

The pervert told the girl she was beautiful and he wanted them to be boyfriend and girlfriend – despite a significant gap in their age.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the abuse started with him holding the girl’s hand and kissing her.

He became possessive and he started to sexually abuse her before he raped her. He then bought her an expensive gift.

But Cook told his victim not to tell anyone about what had happened.

It was years later when the victim reported the abuse to the police.

Cook, of Thames Road, Newcastle, denied two charges of rape of a child under 13; two offences of sexual assault of a child under 13, and two charges of assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

But he was convicted of all six charges by a jury on July 20.

Jailing Cook, Judge Paul Glenn said: “There was a significant age gap. You groomed your victim.

“You persuaded her to perform a sex act on you. You bought her an expensive gift but you told her never to tell anyone.

“You told her people would look at it as wrong.

“These are serious offences which involved planning and grooming.”

Cook was placed on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life and will be barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.