Louis Cooper 30

Description

A mother tearfully confronted her rapist in court, saying, "You didn't listen to me when I said no, but you will listen now," as he was jailed for the assault.

Louis Cooper chillingly told his victim he "liked it when she was squirming" during the rape and laughed when he learned he had injured her. Though he denies the offense, the victim stated: "That day changed everything about me. The person I was before this happened died that day."

At Liverpool Crown Court, jurors heard that Cooper, 30, of Rossmore Road East in Ellesmere Port, began consensual sex with the complainant but suddenly changed position without consent. Despite her saying "Louis, no" and trying to push him off, he held her down and raped her. She was unable to "say or do anything" or "move." Afterward, he said: "Halfway through that, I realised I was raping you. I kind of liked it when you were squirming though." He later laughed about her injury and texted her referencing it.

In her victim impact statement, she said tearfully: "What he did to me didn't end when it was over. That day changed everything about me. The person I was before this happened died that day. People hear the word rape and think it's just one moment. It became my whole life. It followed me into my home, my job and sleep until nothing felt normal any more.

"I stopped trusting people. I became frightened of the world. My mental health deteriorated to the point that I tried to take my own life three times. I was not coping, I was not functioning and I was not surviving. I lost my confidence, independence and sense of self. I had to leave my job and move house in order to feel safe again. It still follows me every day.

"Louis Cooper didn't just hurt me, he scarred me. He took my peace, confidence and safety. He took years of my life. Surviving is not the same as living. This was not something I could just move on from. It followed me into every day and every part of my life.

"It didn't just only happen to me. My children watched their mum disappear. They watched me deteriorate, cry and shut down. They've lived with the aftermath of something they should never have been touched by. I wanted to protect them from everything, and I couldn't protect them from the things he did to me.

"My family have lived with this for years too, living with the fear that, one day, they would lose me. I will carry the impact of this for the rest of my life. This is for you Louis. You didn't listen to me when I said no, but you will listen now. This was rape, this was abuse and it nearly killed me."

Cooper has one prior conviction: three years in prison in 2020 for drug trafficking. Defense barrister Mark Connor argued: "He has no previous convictions for any violence at all. He has no previous convictions for any sexual offence. This appears to be an isolated incident. While on bail for a significant period of time, he committed no further offences. This is not a case that calls for an extended determinate sentence. Mr Cooper knows that he will receive a significant sentence of imprisonment. I ask your honour to pass the least possible sentence commensurate with the seriousness of these offences."

Convicted of rape by jury, Cooper appeared via video link from HMP Liverpool, wearing a grey Under Armour sweatshirt, with short dark hair and a beard. Judge Brian Cummings KC sentenced him to eight years in prison plus four years on extended license, noting: "It is apparent that you continue to deny the rape. It is apparent, more than three years on from the offence, that her thoughts continue to be dominated by the rape, and her life has been severely adversely affected.

"It cannot be said that this is your first experience of custody. It is, of course, now your second such experience. I take account of the character evidence presented on your behalf. It is apparent that there is a better side to your character. I take account of the fact that you have a young child. That is always a tragic aspect of any case where a court has to impose a prison sentence.

"I am afraid, notwithstanding the submissions made by Mr Connor, my own assessment, having observed the evidence given in the trial in your case, including your own evidence, is that there is a significant risk of serious harm being occasioned to members of the public by the commission by you of further specified offences. I am not satisfied that a determinate prison sentence will be sufficient, and the sentence in your case will be an extended licence sentence."

Cooper received a lifelong restraining order barring contact with the victim and must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.