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Offender Information
Age: 26
Town: Manchester
Convicted: 05/05/2022
Snapchat groomer jailed for child sex offences.
24-year-old Thomas Cooper Sentenced to 3 Years and 9 Months for Child Sex Offences
Thomas Cooper, of Tame Street, Denton, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court to 3 years and 9 months imprisonment for engaging in sexual activity with a child. He was also subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offender register for life.
The court heard that in December 2021, Cooper contacted a girl on the social media platform Snapchat and groomed her online. He subsequently arranged to meet her and engaged in sexual activity with her on two separate occasions.
The victim's family later discovered these incidents and alerted the police. Cooper was arrested in the Ashton-Under-Lyne area on January 31st of this year and taken into police custody. During his interview, he claimed that the victim had forced him to engage in sexual activity against his will.
During the investigation, detectives gathered sufficient evidence, leading to Cooper pleading guilty to the offences.
Detective Constable Mike Allen of GMP's Tameside district complex safeguarding team said: "Cooper is clearly a predator who preyed on children for his own sexual pleasure. Sexual offences often have a long-lasting impact on victims, and Greater Manchester Police is committed to preventing this harm. I would encourage any young person who is being contacted by an adult or who is aware of an adult inappropriately contacting a young person to report it to an appropriate adult or agency so they can be safeguarded and supported, and the suspect can be identified. I hope this outcome sends a clear message to offenders that this behavior will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and that authorities here are committed to ensuring they face justice."