William Brown, 55, is pictured draping his arm around
Natasha Cooper during her 16th birthday celebrations (centre) before her
parents discovered that he was grooming and sexually abusing the teenager while
living next door. Brown, a mechanic, became friendly with neighbours Anthony,
47, and Sharon Cooper, 45, when they moved into a three-bedroom property in
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, with their daughter Natasha (together inset) and son
Joseph.
Natasha Cooper during her 16th birthday celebrations (centre) before her
parents discovered that he was grooming and sexually abusing the teenager while
living next door. Brown, a mechanic, became friendly with neighbours Anthony,
47, and Sharon Cooper, 45, when they moved into a three-bedroom property in
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, with their daughter Natasha (together inset) and son
Joseph.
The family quickly became friends with Brown and his
hospital worker wife Dawn and the two families would often throw barbecues and
parties together. However, the Coopers later discovered that Brown was using
their friendship to groom and sexually abuse their daughter, who was just
14-years-old (pictured right aged 14, wearing one of Brown’s hats) when it
began in 2010. Brown went behind his neighbours’ backs and tricked young Natasha
into thinking she loved him before having sex with her on four occasions. He
has now been jailed for three years, while Natasha, now aged 18 (left), has
spoken out about the ordeal after deciding to waive her right to anonymity.
hospital worker wife Dawn and the two families would often throw barbecues and
parties together. However, the Coopers later discovered that Brown was using
their friendship to groom and sexually abuse their daughter, who was just
14-years-old (pictured right aged 14, wearing one of Brown’s hats) when it
began in 2010. Brown went behind his neighbours’ backs and tricked young Natasha
into thinking she loved him before having sex with her on four occasions. He
has now been jailed for three years, while Natasha, now aged 18 (left), has
spoken out about the ordeal after deciding to waive her right to anonymity.
She said: ‘It just started off with holding hands when I was
13 while we were walking the dogs, but after a little while he would kiss me on
the cheek, and the on the lips.
13 while we were walking the dogs, but after a little while he would kiss me on
the cheek, and the on the lips.
‘I really liked him and when I was 14, we had sex for the
first time in a field. I knew it was wrong because he was married, but I didn’t
care. He was so funny and mature, I fell completely in love with him.
first time in a field. I knew it was wrong because he was married, but I didn’t
care. He was so funny and mature, I fell completely in love with him.
‘In the end, I realised what I had to do, and told the
police everything. It broke my heart because I felt like I was betraying Will.
But I didn’t want our family to be torn apart anymore.’
police everything. It broke my heart because I felt like I was betraying Will.
But I didn’t want our family to be torn apart anymore.’
Brown’s grooming and sexual abuse was discovered after Mrs
Cooper saw her daughter and next-door neighbour close in the garden one night.
Cooper saw her daughter and next-door neighbour close in the garden one night.
She confronted the pair, who both denied it, but pushed her
daughter on the matter after Brown joked about not being able to keep his hands
off the youngster.
daughter on the matter after Brown joked about not being able to keep his hands
off the youngster.
The teenager eventually admitted the sexual activity to her
mother, who informed Brown’s wife Dawn.
mother, who informed Brown’s wife Dawn.
She said: ‘Dawn refused to believe me and got angry so I
showed her the messages.
showed her the messages.
‘Natasha had begged me not to tell her dad but I couldn’t
hide it from him.’
hide it from him.’
The family then reported Brown to the police, who fled his
family home but was found and arrested at his sister’s house in September last
year.
family home but was found and arrested at his sister’s house in September last
year.
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