Melbourne musician Louis Cooke pleads guilty to indecent act with a child under 16

A Melbourne musician who committed an indecent act on his former 14-year-old student is free to take his “up-and-coming” career overseas.

Louis Cooke pleaded guilty to indecent act with a child under 16. Facebook.

A Melbourne musician who left a former guitar student with extreme mental anguish after he formed a “relationship” with the 14-year-old girl has been made a registered sex offender.

Louis Cooke, 26, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to a two-year community correction order after pleading guilty to indecent act with a child under 16.

Cooke met his victim when they were both out performing.

Cooke initially gave the teenage girl weekly one hour lessons.

The court heard Cooke and his victim’s relationship “gradually developed” over time with the pair spending less time playing music and more time “talking”.

Cooke committed an indecent act on the child multiple times including after she performed at an Open Mic night.

The court heard the victim began to “feel confused” and “upset” because Cooke would not acknowledge their relationship.

Cooke, of St Kilda, spoke to a friend who advised him to stop the relationship “immediately”.

Cooke rang the victim’s mother and said he was “not able to see” her daughter anymore because of her “age”.

The victim reported Cooke to police in June 2020, telling investigators her former tutor had “sexually assaulted” her.

Police arrested Cooke at his St Kilda home and hauled him away for questioning in August, 2020.

Cooke, who admitted “kissing the (the victim) a few times”, claimed he celebrated the child’s 14th birthday with her.

Cooke also admitted he was aware it was inappropriate for an adult to have an “intimate” relationship with a child.

“Yeah I understand that … I knew that it was not OK,” Cooke told police.

“I’ve never been involved with anyone else underage.”

The victim, who bravely read her impact statement to the court, said Cooke’s offending had a “profound impact” on her life.

“It contributed to ongoing mental health difficulties, anxiety and distrust in my relationships …,” the victim said.

“It took me years of confusion to fully grasp what had happened … only as an adult was I able to look at the children in my life and recognise how wrong it was and how it should never have happened.

“(When I met Louis) I was totally bankrupt of self-esteem, it was only playing music that he helped me cope … (Cooke) quickly became my only friend … I was willing do anything to ensure our friendship — my only friendship — would continue …

“I was desperate for validation and independence, I was flattered by comments which I now realise was grooming … it felt good to be told I was mature for my age or that I was not like other girls.

“I also knew from the start that what was emerging was profoundly wrong … in the immediate aftermath of my relationship with Louis I experienced a rapid decline in mental wellbeing …

“The emotional whiplash that arose from the rapid transition from student to best friend to weekly object of affection to object of regret was too much for me to handle.

“I was beyond confused and deeply hurt.”

The victim told the court she spent several stints in hospital following Cooke’s offending.

The defence submitted Cooke has a “decent moral compass” and a “good heart”.

“Mr Cooke is profoundly remorseful for what he has done (to the victim) …,” the defence submitted.

“There is no doubt this is serious offending, sexual offending against children always is …”

Magistrate Guillaume Bailin said Cooke committed a “very serious breach of trust”.

“I accept (Cooke’s youth at the time) that’s why he’s not in custody and that’s perhaps why he’s not looking at immediate jail …,” Magistrate Bailin said.

“Breach of trust is powerful factor which goes towards recording a conviction.”

The defence made a late submission at today’s sentencing that a conviction would “hamper” Cooke’s ability to travel overseas as an “up-and-coming” music and recording artist.

Cooke, who was served the order without conviction, was made a registered sex offender for eight years.

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