UK’s ‘most notorious paedo’ Sidney Cooke, 95, who organised gang rape of kids and killed schoolboy makes bid for freedom
THE UK's most notorious paedophile is launching another bid for freedom after being rejected for parole TEN times.
Evil child molester and serial killer Sidney Cooke, 95, had thought he was destined to die behind bars.
But The Sun can reveal the sick fiend, nicknamed Hissing Sid, has now been given fresh hope after being granted a new appeal hearing next year.
His case has been referred to parole chiefs and a review is now formally underway.
Sources say a full hearing could take place as early as February next year.
Cooke would then hear the result within weeks - paving the way for either a move to a cushy open jail or even release.
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Cooke was part of a horrifying paedo ring known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’ which traded in the abuse of young boys in the 1980s.
He was convicted of manslaughter for his involvement in the horrifying sex-fuelled killing of schoolboy Jason Swift in 1989.
The 14-year-old vanished from his east London home and it was later revealed gang members had paid £5 to gang rape the teen.
His naked body was then found buried on a farm in Essex in November 1985.
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Cooke was sentenced to 19 years but was released in 1998 - sparking national outcry.
However, just one year later he was rearrested for abusing two boys on 10 occasions in the 1970s and thrown back in jail – where he has remained ever since.
In October last year, he was rejected by a parole board for the tenth time.
He was also refused a request to be moved to an open prison.
Now Cooke has launched his eleventh bid for freedom.
A spokeswoman for the Parole Board said: “The parole review has now been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.
“A hearing is expected to take place early next year.“
Cooke has long been suspected of being among those who murdered seven-year-old Mark Tildesley in Berkshire in 1984.
The youngster disappeared at a funfair and it was claimed Cooke had lured him away with the promise of a 50p bag of sweets.
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But Cooke was never prosecuted for Mark’s murder as he was already in prison.
The Dirty Dozen are believed to have been behind the deaths of at least nine boys, including Barry Lewis, six, who was snatched, sexually abused and then killed in 1985.