Norfolk man guilty of raping children gets life sentence

Richard Cosburn, 56, a former Great Yarmouth primary school teacher, forced the girl, who was aged between four and 12 at the time, to do so if she refused his demands. 

Norwich Crown Court heard Cosburn raped another boy in America while he slept and also filmed himself as he raped two other victims, a boy and a girl, in the Philippines.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, said the 10 or 11-year-old girl in the Philippines, was "blindfolded" by Cosburn as he sexually abused her in 2012.

In total Cosburn admitted 23 sex offences against his four victims, none of who can be identified for legal reasons, including 10 counts of rape, between August 2001 and October 2020.

Cosburn, formerly of Mill Road, Great Yarmouth, admitted three counts of rape against one female child victim as well as four counts of assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and taking indecent images of a child.

Great Yarmouth Primary Academy (Image: Google)

Against a male victim, then aged seven, he admitted one indecent assault and two rapes in the USA in August 2001.

He also admitted two rapes against a female child, aged 10 or 11, in the Philippines between January and December 2012 as well as taking indecent images of a child.

Cosburn also admitted three rapes of another child in the Philippines, who was approximately 11, in 2012 as well as an offence of taking indecent pictures of the child. 

In additon Cosburn admitted three offences related to indecent images of children including 54 category A images, the most serious, 123 category B images and 363 at category C.

None of the charges relate to children at schools Cosburn used to work at, including Great Yarmouth Primary Academy (GYPA) where he used to be a teacher but no longer works.

Cosburn, who was also a former scout leader, appeared at court for sentence on Wednesday (July 19) having previously admitted the offences.

Richard Cosburn (Image: Norfolk Police)

Imposing a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years in prison Judge Katharine Moore said Cosburn "remained a danger to male and female children, particularly those of primary school age or under".

Judge Katharine Moore (Image: Newsquest)

Judge Moore said Cosburn had admitted "egregious, predatory, sexual offending against four children aged between four and 13".

Judge Moore said as a former teacher and scout leader he "understood safeguarding procedures" but had committed the offences against this background.

She said he had made one of the children "drink your urine" and was "driven by your own sexual gratification whatever the cost to the child".

Before Cosburn was sentenced the court heard an impact statement from one of his male victims who was abused in the USA.

He said he felt "physically sick" at the "unimaginable" crimes committed against him by Cosburn.

He said Cosburn had "destroyed my life" and the lives of the other children who had "no choice".

One of his female victims, now 20, did not make a statement and on being asked by police how she felt referred to him as being "a painful part of the past".

Estelle Thornber, for Cosburn, said he has expressed remorse and a reduction should be made for his guilty pleas.

Although Cosburn did not "immediately cough up" he had "admitted what many would hide until the very end" adding he had "effectively spilt everything onto the floor and come clean".

As previously reported, Inspiration Trust, which runs the school on Dickens Avenue in Great Yarmouth, said parents had been informed about the case.

A trust spokesperson said: “We have supported the police in their investigation, including confirming that when he joined the trust, all safeguarding checks were completed in full."

Cosburn must also sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) until further order.