Man jailed for historic rape of child he groomed through computer games

A man has been jailed for a “historic” rape and sexual assault of a child.

Nathan Cook was a teenager when he carried out the rape and sexual assault of a child who was significantly younger. Cook would play computer games with the boy, before going on to show him pornography.

During one terrifying incident, Cook “dragged” the boy into a room before carrying out a sexual offence. He also took pictures of the boy when he was naked.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Cook’s crimes came to light years later when the victim confided in a family member. The horrific abuse he suffered left him battling depression and losing all trust in men and boys.

On Friday, Cook, who is now 21 years old, appeared at the court to be sentenced for four counts of rape of a child, three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault of a child, and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act. He was also sentenced for breaching a suspended sentence and a sexual harm prevention order, which post-dated the historic sex offences.

The court heard that years after the offences, the victim confided in a family member about the sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of Cook.

Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said that there was an occasion where Cook made the victim “watch pornography on his phone” while playing computer games. Before one rape, Cook told the boy to strip naked and lie on the floor, the court heard.

During another incident, Cook, of Nenthead, Alston, Cumbria, took a photograph of the boy naked. Ms Smithies added that before another assault, Cook, “dragged the boy into a room”.

The court was told that the victim bravely came forward after thinking about what happened to him during a school lesson. In a victim statement, he said the abuse has affected him mentally and he would cry himself to sleep. He added that he feels “physically sick” when thinking of the abuse and that it has “affected my trust in men and boys”.

In February last year, Cook received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for possession of indecent images. The sickening images depicted children as young as two months old. He was also given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for those offences.

But Cook breached the suspended sentence and the SHPO when police went to an address and discovered he’d been using an iPad that had access to the internet. He had denied having any device that had access to the internet when police conducted the check-up.

Andrew Walker, defending Cook, who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, said: “The defendant understands that this is serious offending.” He also urged the judge to “take into account the age he was at the relevant time”. Mr Walker added: “The defendant knows he will receive a substantial custodial sentence.”

As Cook was around 14 years old when he committed the serious sex offences, Judge Amanda Rippon told the court she had to sentence him as if he was still that age. She said: “I have to sentence you as a 14-year-old boy.” Judge Rippon added that Cook has an “ongoing sexual interest in children as young as four-years-old”.

Cook was given a 10 year extended prison sentence, five years of which will be custodial. He will be on the sex offender register indefinitely and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, along with an indefinite restraining order.