Locations
Churchill Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4
Description
A "dangerous" paedophile has been jailed for 19 years after he was convicted of raping a "very young girl".
Louis Cooper, 22, of Churchill Road, in Shepton Mallet, was given a 22-year sentence at Taunton Crown Court on Wednesday (October 9), consisting of 19 years of imprisonment and an additional three years as an extended licence period.
Cooper, who was otherwise known as Kodie Cooper, was found guilty of one count of rape of a child under 13, as well as a number of other sexual offences, including:
- attempted sexual communications with a child
- attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity
- making indecent photographs of children
Police said the victim was "a very young girl".
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said the imprisonment of Mr Cooper was necessary to protect others from harm.
DC Jon Hooper, the investigating officer, said: "Louis Cooper is without doubt an extremely dangerous offender who poses a significant risk to members of the public, especially children.
"The offences he committed are among the most horrific I've had to investigate and in court the judge said it was hard to convey the horror of what he'd done.
"We can only hope the very young victim will not suffer any long-term damage as a result of the abuse she suffered.
"If Cooper had not been stopped, he would inevitably have gone on to commit further offences."