A Maidstone predator who attempted to groom two young girls he had contacted on social media has been jailed for four and a half years.
Trevor Cook bombarded his potential victims with obscene images of himself and repeatedly demanded explicit content from them in return. The 41-year-old’s actions were halted at around 4.45pm on 22 February 2026, when Kent Police were made aware that Cook had planned to meet one of the children at a fast-food restaurant near Broadway.
Officers promptly attended the scene and arrested him. A subsequent review of his mobile phone content allowed investigators to establish that he had been attempting to meet girls for sex. When his home in Massey Close, Maidstone, was searched, officers also seized train tickets and proof of a hotel booking.
Cook was later charged with attempting to communicate with a person under the age of 16 for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification, attempting to cause or incite a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, and arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.
He pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 29 June. Following his release, Cook will serve an extended licence period of four years and will be made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Alan Wolfe, said:
‘Cook intentionally targeted underage victims and attempted to groom them. He tried to gain their trust by calling them ‘Princess’, feigned interest in their family members, and promised gifts of sweets and chocolates.
‘To a child, these actions might be misconstrued as affection. In reality, Cook is a dangerous paedophile who intended on carrying out a sexual assault on at least one child.
‘I am pleased the judge identified his lack of remorse concerning his offending. The prison sentence will prevent him committing further offences and – upon his release – he will be closely monitored by specialist officers.’