Yahoo Finance Ex-Queen’s bodyguard jailed for sexually assaulting two six-year-old girls
A former Queen's bodyguard has been jailed for sexually assaulting two six-year-old girls and taking pictures of naked young children.
Oliver Cooper, 27, an ex-soldier in the Household Cavalry for four years, was locked up for his actions while he was a Beaver Scouts leader.
The paedophile was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged six, sexual assault on another girl also aged six, one count of taking indecent photographs of a child and 13 counts of voyeurism.
He was sentenced to six years in prison at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday.
Detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit probed Cooper after a child came forward in 2018 to say she had been sexually touched by the scout leader.
He was arrested and indecent images and videos of children getting undressed in private were found on his phone and laptop.
During the course of the investigation, a further child came forward to say she had also been sexually assaulted.
Detective Constable Rees Hopcraft, from Sussex Police, said: “The young girls involved showed tremendous bravery throughout the investigation and were supported by specially trained officers.
"Despite the overwhelming evidence, Cooper continued to protest his innocence and thus forced the victims to give evidence, which was done via a video link to the court.
"In sentencing, Judge Stephen Mooney commented on Cooper's lack of remorse and the 'colossal breach of trust' involved.
"Prior to his scouting role he was a law student at Sussex University, and a soldier in the Household Cavalry where he served for four years in the UK."
Police said the Scouts Association had given full-co-operation, and that parents of all children who were in the scouting group have been kept informed.
There is no current safeguarding risk to any child.
Cooper, from Hopton in Staffordshire, will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
