Bible study teacher convicted of rape

Henry Cooper was found guilty of the rape, and grievous sexual assault of his 12-year-old church sister by a seven-member jury in the Home Circuit Court on Monday.

Cooper, a bible study teacher, had reportedly assaulted the minor on three separate occasions starting when she was 11 and living with her foster parents.

According to evidence presented in court by prosecutor Syleen O’Gilvie, Cooper regularly visited the child’s foster father, who is also the pastor of the church where he led bible studies for children and teens, to “pray about church affairs.”

The first incident occurred in 2017 when Cooper visited the family’s home while the caregivers were away and touched the minor on her private parts.

The second incident occurred on March 6, 2018.

While the now 12-year-old child was preparing for the Primary Exit Profile exam at a blind tutor’s house in the community, Cooper, who was also at the tutor’s house, used his hand to touch the child on her private parts.

The final attack came three days later at the minor’s home while her father was inside sleeping.

Cooper went to the home and saw the 12-year-old seated at the top of a flight of steps.

He pulled her towards him, and while she told him to “let go,” dragged her down the steps to a private area and forcibly had sexual intercourse with the child, before instructing her to perform a sex act on him.

The child told her caregivers who brought Cooper before the police on March 13, 2018. 

He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16. 

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