Hull Paragon Interchange: Paedophile hunters confront man

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Sidney Cooke is serving a life sentence for a series of child rapes and murders. Dubbed Britain’s most notorious paedophile, the 94-year-old is anticipated to claim his age and ill health prevent him from being a menace, the Mirror reports. However, a source told the paper: “Just because he is 94, does not mean he is no longer a danger to the public. You can still pose a risk regardless of age.”

Cooke has already been rejected early release by a parole board nine previous times. The panel’s decision will be revealed later this month.

In the 1970s, Cooke and a group of paedophiles – known as the Dirty Dozen gang – began hiring rent boys and taking young boys off the streets.

These boys were subsequently drugged by the men, then raped in group orgies.

In November 1985, a group led by Cooke each paid £5 to gang-rape 14-year-old Jason Swift.

After his body was found in a shallow grave by a dog walker, the Metropolitan Police arrested Cooke and three accomplices – Leslie Bailey, Robert Oliver and Steven Barrell.

Cooke appeared at the Old Bailey, and in 1989 was sentenced to 19 years in Wandsworth Prison for manslaughter.

He was released in 1998, which caused public outcry. He was made to wear an electronic tag and was held at a police station for his own protection.

However, Cooke was jailed again in 1999, following revelations in Channel 4’s Dispatches and a subsequent investigation by Thames Valley Police.

Police charged him with 18 sexual offences dating between 1972 and 1981 across the country.

These included repeated abuse and assault of two brothers and the rape of a young woman.

Cooke pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of the two brothers. He admitted to all but eight charges brought against him, which included four counts of rape, and was given two life sentences.

DON’T MISS

‘Nervous’ Kate was ‘so desperate to impress’ Queen [INSIGHT]
Queen’s competitiveness detailed by Alexander Armstrong [REVEAL]
 EU considers intervention as gas price ‘shock’ grips bloc [REPORT]

Following his sentencing, then-director of the NSPCC Jim Harding said Cooke’s victims “suffered some of the vilest and cruellest sex offences imaginable.

“He should never have been freed after serving his last sentence. We sincerely hope he will never be given the opportunity to hurt another child again.”

One of Cooke’s accomplices in the Jason Swift case, Robert Oliver was sentenced to fifteen years, but was released after eight and changed his name.

In 2013, he was jailed again for a further three years after luring children to his home in Kent – in breach of a court order banning him from unsupervised contact with children.

Meanwhile, Leslie Bailey told the authorities that Cooke was among those who murdered 7-year-old Mark Tildesley. Bailey claimed that the boy was lured away from a funfair by Cooke on the promise of a bag of sweets.

Cooke has indicated in the past that he knows where the boy’s body is buried, but refuses to tell the police, or the family, the exact location. Bailey was killed in prison in 1993.

Retired detective David Bright said in 2017 he feared children were hidden in graves “around the country” due to the actions of Cooke and others.

Source: Read Full Article