July 2023

Man from Great Yarmouth jailed for life for sex offences against children

A former teacher who sexually abused four children has been jailed for life – to serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole

Richard Cosburn admitted a total of 23 offences against his victims including multiple rapes against children dating back to the early 2000s.

The former Great Yarmouth primary school teacher who was also a former scout leader forced a girl, who was aged between four and 12 at the time to drink his urine if she did not do what he wanted

Norwich Crown Court heard Cosburn raped another boy in America while he slept and also filmed himself as he raped two other victims, a boy and a girl, in the Philippines.

Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, said the 10 or 11-year-old girl in the Philippines, was “blindfolded” by Cosburn as he sexually abused her in 2012.

Police found indecent images and videos related to his offences which took place in both the UK and overseas.

In a statement read in court, one of his victims said: “Sometimes I find myself closing my eyes to pretend this is all just a bad dream but the feelings of anxiety never go away.

“My willingness to try and forgive and forget has gone. I will never be able to forgive what he has done.”

At the hearing at Norwich Crown Court, Cosburn, of Mill Road, Great Yarmouth, was sentenced to life in prison and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole.

The 56-year-old worked at schools in Bradwell, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk as well as Bromley in south-east London although his offences were not linked to his work as a teacher.

He was originally arrested by the Metropolitan Police in Bromley in October 2020 following reports he had groomed a young girl in the Great Yarmouth area.

During an investigation, police seized various electronic devices, including mobile phones, a camera, camcorder, laptop and memory disks.

After Norfolk Police took over the investigation, officers found a series of indecent images and videos relating to his offending both in the UK and overseas.