Scott Cooke murder verdict: Mother pays fond tribute to 'loveable rogue'
Scott 'Scotty' Cooke – known as a 'loveable rogue' by those closest to him – made friends with all he met and had an infectious personality according to friends and family.
But it was perhaps his loyal nature and tendency to stand up for the underdog which eventually led to the tragic circumstances on December 27, 2011, when he was stabbed to death on Monkmoor Recreation Ground in Shrewsbury.
His family and friends today paid tribute to the 23-year-old and his happy-go-lucky persona.
Pair guilty of Scott Cooke Shrewsbury park killing
Scott was born and bred in Monkmoor but was living with his mother Jackie Taylor in Sutton Farm at the time of his death.
He had been educated at Crowmoor Primary and then Belvidere School in Monkmoor, competing all over the country at inline skating during his teenage years.
"He was a very popular lad at school and that stayed with him throughout his life with more than 750 people turning up at his funeral," explains 46-year-old mum Jackie.
"He didn't judge a book by its cover – he spoke to people and always found out about them. He was a very loyal friend and used to fight people's battles for them if they couldn't do it themselves."
She said his main passion in life, apart from enjoying an array of different music, was his devotion to his family and in particular brothers Ricky and Andrew, aged 29 and 26, and his 14-year-old cousin Tia.
Jackie said: "We are not that big a family but very close-knit – his cousin Tia worshipped the ground he walked on and Scott was like a big brother to her."
A Facebook page called 'Scotty Cooke RIP' has thousands of members and the community also clubbed together to unveil a £1,000 bench for him in May last year which is now on the recreation ground.
"He wasn't an angel and did have a few brushes with the law but even the police liked him.
"Losing Scotty has left a hole that we can never replace."
