'He should have had to sit there in that courtroom'

Teenager allegedly sexually abused by man who took his own life speaks out on how she can now move forward.

- CHRIS SLATER

A teenager allegedly sexually abused by a man who took his own life before he faced a jury says she was 'petrified' at the thought of seeing him, but wanted her day in court.

Married father and joiner Simon Cooper, 37, was found dead at his home in Mossley, Tameside, in September last year. The previous month he had been charged with a series of sexual offences allegedly committed against an underage girl, following a long-running investigation, the Manchester Evening News previously revealed.

Police were looking into the allegations since they were first made in January 2022, an inquest was told.

Mr Cooper died before his first scheduled court appearance, in December 2023. He never entered pleas and the case against him was formally discontinued at a hearing at Tameside Magistrates' Court.