A teaching assistant from Radcliffe has been jailed for four years and six months after admitting multiple sexual offences against a boy of primary school age.
Terri Cook, of Masefield Avenue, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court after a Greater Manchester Police investigation found she had groomed and sexually abused the child over a period of more than nine months.
Cook, born on 17 November 1987, pleaded guilty to eight sexual offences following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police's Child Protection Investigation Unit.
The court heard the investigation began in September 2025 after a member of the public reported seeing Cook with a young boy. Officers later uncovered messages on her phone which showed she had been encouraging sexual communication with the child and storing indecent images of him.
Police also found evidence that Cook had bought the boy expensive items including jewellery and clothing during the offending period.
In a statement read to the court, the victim's mother said her son had been "a happy boy who was extremely kind and caring to everyone around him" despite experiencing traumatic events earlier in life.
Addressing Cook directly, she said: "I trusted you. You were in a position of trust and power. Your role was to help children and keep them safe. Instead, you abused your position and harmed [the victim], not once but repeatedly."
She added: "You knew about his past and deliberately used his vulnerability to your advantage. You have taken so much away from him at such a young age. This will affect his life forever, and it will be him who lives with the consequences of your selfish actions."
Detective Sergeant Adam Stanfield from Bury's Child Protection Investigation Unit said the victim and his family had shown "immense bravery and courage" throughout the case.
He said: "This case was a horrific example of calculated abuse of power, and Cook targeted a vulnerable child who put his trust in her.
"Grooming is a form of manipulation that can leave lasting emotional and psychological damage, and our priority remains protecting young people and supporting victims as they recover."
Det Sgt Stanfield also stressed that male victims of sexual abuse must be taken seriously and urged anyone affected by similar offences to contact police.
Greater Manchester Police said specialist support remains available for victims of sexual offences across the region.
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