A teaching assistant from Bury has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences against a vulnerable boy of primary-school age. Terri Cook, 37, of Masefield Avenue, Radcliffe, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court and was jailed for four and a half years for eight charges linked to the abuse.
Police said the case began in September 2025 after a member of the public reported seeing Cook out with a young boy. Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s Child Protection Investigation Unit then launched an investigation and found that she had been grooming and manipulating the child into a sexual relationship.
Investigators discovered messages on Cook’s phone showing sexual communication with the boy, along with indecent images of him. They also found that she had bought him expensive items, including jewellery and clothing, over a period of more than nine months.
In a statement read to court, the victim’s mother said her son had been a happy and kind child and that Cook had abused her position of trust and power. She said Cook knew about his past and deliberately used his vulnerability for her own purposes, taking something away from him that would affect his life forever.
Detective Sergeant Adam Stanfield of Bury’s Child Protection Investigation Unit praised the bravery of the victim and his family, saying their support helped put a sexual predator behind bars. He described the case as a horrific example of calculated abuse of power and said grooming can leave lasting emotional and psychological harm.
He also stressed that male victims must be taken seriously, saying boys can be victims too and urging anyone who has experienced similar abuse to report it to police. He said the force remains committed to protecting young people and supporting victims as they recover.