A 96-year-old former Minehead doctor jailed for three years for sex offences against a girl which started when she was six, has lost his appeal against his sentence.

Peter Cooper, of The Ball, Minehead, described at his trial at Taunton Crown Court in February as a “dedicated family doctor for 40 years”, had claimed that his sentence was excessive because of his extreme old age.

But last Thursday (April 6) five London Appeal Court judges decided that, despite his age, Cooper was fit enough to serve his sentence and that the term should not be reduced.

At his trial, Cooper admitted an offence of indecency with a girl aged under ten, and five counts of indecent assault. The court was told that the historic sex offences only came to light in 2014 when Cooper was confronted by members of the girl’s family.

Cooper had been described by defence lawyers as “a dedicated West Somerset doctor for 40 years, leading a blameless, useful and law-abiding life, and a father and grandfather”.

His lawyers told the Appeal Court that old people like Cooper were vulnerable and should be treated as if they were terminally ill.

He should be regarded as a special class of offender – like those under 18 and the mentally disordered – and be given special consideration when being sentenced.

But Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with four judges, said sentencing the very old should be done on a case-by-case basis. She said the recent rise in the number of older offenders had led to better provision being made for them in prison.

She added: “We are not persuaded that there should be any change in the position.”

Lady Justice Hallett said that, while an offender’s diminished life expectancy, his age, health and the prospect of dying in prison should be taken into account when passing sentence, they should be balanced against setting appropriate punishment for very serious crimes.

She said Cooper was relatively fit and had lived independently. In his case, a term of three years for offences of such seriousness was not excessive even for someone of his age.