Driving Instructor Trial
Instructor jailed after he hid carrot down trousers
A DRIVING instructor who indecently
assaulted at least three of his pupils
was last night behind bars as police investigated
further allegations of misconduct.
The Northern Echo can reveal that
detectives have been contacted by more
learner drivers since newspaper reports
of Stephen Cooney's antics were
published last month.
The women claim that they were also
groped and abused by the bespectacled
51-year-old pervert when he taught
them to drive on Teesside during the
past decade.
Cooney, from east Cleveland, was
jailed for 18 months yesterday after
being found guilty of two indecent assaults
and two sexual assaults at the
end of a trial last month.
Three of his pupils - a teenage student,
a single mother in her 20s and a
middle-aged woman - all gave evidence
against him during the three-day trial.
The student was groped at the end of
a lesson in September 2002, while
Cooney repeatedly touched the lone
parent during lessons over a six-month
period.
The single mother was also shown
naked photographs of her tutor and
was told she could write off her bill for
lessons if she had sex with Cooney in a
lay-by.
A third pupil fled his car in tears after
Cooney forced her hand onto his groin
to show her a pretend erection that was
really a 12in carrot in his trousers.
Teesside Crown Court was told that
the instructor targeted vulnerable females
who were either young or going
through relationship troubles.
Judge George Moorhouse told married
Cooney: "While in your privileged
and trusted position, you chose to
abuse it.
"This was repeated offending and
there was a sense of grooming - you
learned about their problems and started
telling them dirty jokes.
"Then, when you thought the time
was appropriate, you committed your
offences. The offences themselves - in
isolation, and according to the sentencing
guidelines - do not qualify for
a custodial sentence.
"But I am satisfied, having heard the
evidence during the trial and reading
about you, that this is a case which fully
justifies prison."
Christine Egerton, mitigating, said
Cooney, of Ronaldshay Terrace,
Marske, denies committing the offences
but accepts he behaved inappropriately.
Cooney has had to give up his job
since being convicted and will now be
on the sex offenders' register for ten
years after being released from jail.
A Sexual Offences Prevention Order
was also imposed. It bans him from giving
driving lessons to women for the
rest of his life.
8:38am Saturday 8th December 2007
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