Anonymous

Cook continued to commit more break-ins across the city during the first months of 1949, leaving fingerprints behind when he stole whatever cash he found along with women's underwear. He also lit more fires at other addresses. Once he defecated in a toy cot that belonged to a child. In early March, Cook broke into a house just north of the CBD, entering via the back door.

Cook continued to commit more break-ins across the city during the first months of 1949, leaving fingerprints behind when he stole whatever cash he found along with women's underwear. He also lit more fires at other addresses. Once he defecated in a toy cot that belonged to a child. In early March, Cook broke into a house just north of the CBD, entering via the back door.

Cook continued to commit more break-ins across the city during the first months of 1949, leaving fingerprints behind when he stole whatever cash he found along with women's underwear. He also lit more fires at other addresses. Once he defecated in a toy cot that belonged to a child. In early March, Cook broke into a house just north of the CBD, entering via the back door.

Cook knew the property, as he'd delivered groceries there previously while working for a market. It was late at night and the residents were in their beds asleep. The now 18-year-old Cook was more emboldened and no longer just targeted empty homes. Using a torch to see, Cook found a purse and took it to the bathroom to search through.

Cook knew the property, as he'd delivered groceries there previously while working for a market. It was late at night and the residents were in their beds asleep. The now 18-year-old Cook was more emboldened and no longer just targeted empty homes. Using a torch to see, Cook found a purse and took it to the bathroom to search through.

Cook knew the property, as he'd delivered groceries there previously while working for a market. It was late at night and the residents were in their beds asleep. The now 18-year-old Cook was more emboldened and no longer just targeted empty homes. Using a torch to see, Cook found a purse and took it to the bathroom to search through.

As he was rummaging through the purse, a man entered the bathroom and found him. It was one of the residents who'd been woken by his wife after she heard Cook creeping about. Cook claimed to be a neighbour who had drunkenly entered the property by mistake and gave his first name. His lies weren't believed. When the resident tried to grapple with him, Cook fled.

As he was rummaging through the purse, a man entered the bathroom and found him. It was one of the residents who'd been woken by his wife after she heard Cook creeping about. Cook claimed to be a neighbour who had drunkenly entered the property by mistake and gave his first name. His lies weren't believed. When the resident tried to grapple with him, Cook fled.

As he was rummaging through the purse, a man entered the bathroom and found him. It was one of the residents who'd been woken by his wife after she heard Cook creeping about. Cook claimed to be a neighbour who had drunkenly entered the property by mistake and gave his first name. His lies weren't believed. When the resident tried to grapple with him, Cook fled.

Police tracked him down a week later and matched his fingerprints to two previous break-ins. He was charged and taken before the courts. Cook was convicted on two counts of stealing, four counts of arson, and seven of breaking and entering. He was sentenced to three years in prison with the recommendation he be released on parole after a few months so that he could be rehabilitated.

Police tracked him down a week later and matched his fingerprints to two previous break-ins. He was charged and taken before the courts. Cook was convicted on two counts of stealing, four counts of arson, and seven of breaking and entering. He was sentenced to three years in prison with the recommendation he be released on parole after a few months so that he could be rehabilitated.

Police tracked him down a week later and matched his fingerprints to two previous break-ins. He was charged and taken before the courts. Cook was convicted on two counts of stealing, four counts of arson, and seven of breaking and entering. He was sentenced to three years in prison with the recommendation he be released on parole after a few months so that he could be rehabilitated.

Cook's father was an abusive alcoholic who terrorised his entire family but focused most of his rage on his son. Cook had been born with a cleft palate and lip, a common birth defect that made his father hate him. He beat his son and verbally abused him. Once, when Cook had tried to stop his father from beating up his mother, his father punched him so badly he suffered a skull fracture.

Cook's father was an abusive alcoholic who terrorised his entire family but focused most of his rage on his son. Cook had been born with a cleft palate and lip, a common birth defect that made his father hate him. He beat his son and verbally abused him. Once, when Cook had tried to stop his father from beating up his mother, his father punched him so badly he suffered a skull fracture.

Cook's father was an abusive alcoholic who terrorised his entire family but focused most of his rage on his son. Cook had been born with a cleft palate and lip, a common birth defect that made his father hate him. He beat his son and verbally abused him. Once, when Cook had tried to stop his father from beating up his mother, his father punched him so badly he suffered a skull fracture.

Students at school had also bullied and ostracised Cook, mocking his appearance and a distinctive speech impediment that was the result of his birth defect. One time, Cook's mother saw her son standing in front of a mirror, violently pulling at his scarred lip. Desperate for an escape, Cook had started wandering the streets of Perth and stealing from his teachers, neighbours and peers as a child.

Students at school had also bullied and ostracised Cook, mocking his appearance and a distinctive speech impediment that was the result of his birth defect. One time, Cook's mother saw her son standing in front of a mirror, violently pulling at his scarred lip. Desperate for an escape, Cook had started wandering the streets of Perth and stealing from his teachers, neighbours and peers as a child.

Students at school had also bullied and ostracised Cook, mocking his appearance and a distinctive speech impediment that was the result of his birth defect. One time, Cook's mother saw her son standing in front of a mirror, violently pulling at his scarred lip. Desperate for an escape, Cook had started wandering the streets of Perth and stealing from his teachers, neighbours and peers as a child.

There were concerns that hard time would only serve to further criminalise the first-time offender. The parole board ultimately decided to release Eric Edgar Cook in August 1949, agreeing that his brief stint in prison had been enough to scare him straight. They felt that Cook had committed crimes because he was socially isolated and saw the acts as a way to gain notoriety and friendships.

There were concerns that hard time would only serve to further criminalise the first-time offender. The parole board ultimately decided to release Eric Edgar Cook in August 1949, agreeing that his brief stint in prison had been enough to scare him straight. They felt that Cook had committed crimes because he was socially isolated and saw the acts as a way to gain notoriety and friendships.