- Former hostel ‘parent’ Martin Cooper convicted of historical child sex offences
- He was found guilty of 30 historical child sex offences up to forty years ago
- Witness testimony stated he would ‘violently’ abuse the children sexually
- Cooper, 66, was remanded in custody and is awaiting sentencing
A man who was once a hostel parent who oversaw wards of the State and was convicted of abusing eight children who were in his care up to forty years ago.
Martin James Cooper, 66, helped his wife Nancy run the Warminda Hostel in East Victoria Park between 1978 and 1983 when the abuse occurred, Perth Now reported.
He was found guilty of 30 historical child sex offences on Wednesday for the abuse of four girls and four boys, who were aged between 11 and 16, but was acquitted of abusing a friend of one of the girls under his care.
Martin James Cooper, 66 who was once a hostel parent who oversaw wards of the State and was convicted of abusing eight children who were in his care up to forty years ago (stock image)
Victims testified against Cooper and said the hostel had a culture of fear and intimidation, which included systematic acts of a violent and sexual nature.
The witness testimony detailed Cooper’s actions, from offering boys beers to indecently assault a girl in his car, after which he proceeded to rape the girl in front of the boys.
Further testimony stated Cooper would violently lead another girl around by her hair before locking her in a cupboard which was known as the ‘lock up’.
The female victim said she was violently raped inside the cupboard.
Further testimony stated that Cooper would violently lead another girl around by her hair before locking her in a cupboard which was known as the ‘lock up’ where she was violently raped
Judge Mark Herron described any decision of bail as ‘highly unusual’ because it was ‘inevitable’ that Cooper would be sentenced to jail time and remanded him in custody until his sentencing
Cooper would also abuse the children verbally with one victim saying he would call her ‘ugly’ and that she ‘looked like a pig’, the court heard.
Cooper’s lawyer David McKenzie originally requested his client be released on bail until sentencing, due to early onset dementia and a string of health issues. The court denied the request.
Judge Mark Herron described any decision of bail as ‘highly unusual’ because it was ‘inevitable’ that Cooper would be sentenced to jail time and remanded him in custody until his sentencing.
Advertisement